The hotel group considers the town on exciting and vibrant place.
MARGATE is to acquire a new six-story 60-room full-service hotel, the latest in the growing Bon Hotels stable. Bon Hotel Margate, as it will be called, is expected to open on November 1 this year. According to the hotel group’s chief executive, Guy Stehlik, it will be situated in Marine Drive, a few minutes’ walk away from Margate’s main beach. Mr Stehlik said Bon Hotels had concluded a joint venture agreement with the developer of the new hotel and would manage and market it. “Our joint venture agreement with the developer demonstrates our commitment to partner with property developers on hospitality projects,” he said. His hotel group could inject capital into these projects and add significant value to partnerships with its hospitality experience.
According to Mr Stehlik, the rooms in the hotel wouldbe spacious and modern. Guests would have a choice of one, two- or three-bedroom units, all with balconies and most with sea views. In addition to the regular hotel facilities, the units would have WiFi and limited selfcatering facilities. “The rooms will be sold under sectional title at prices ranging from R750 000 upwards and the owners will be obliged to place them into the hotel-operated rental pool,” he said. Bon Hotels was looking forward to working with domestic wholesalers, conference organisers and the travel trade in projecting the hotel into the domestic markets. Describing Margate as a “surprisingly exciting and vibrant town”, Mr Stehlik said the new hotel would be attractive to holidaymakers and families as well as the corporate and govemment sectors and to golfers. Group conferencing, team building, day conferencing and meetings would constitute the hotel’s core business throughout the week. Its position, close to the beach and to Margate village, and its likely appeal to the passing walk-in trade, would preclude it from being too upmarket and exclusive.
“Bon Hotel Margate will be positioned in the three-star market, but with four-star facilities and five- star service;’ he said. Michael Bertram, the chief executive of Ugu South Coast Tourism said the new hotel was great news for Margate.
