Three major Durban beachfront hotels to get a new lease on life
Three hotels located on the Durban beachfront are indeed set for major revamps, with capital investments of up to R1 billion.
By entering a new lease for a major beachfront hotel and agreeing to revamp other hotels it already operates, Southern Sun will invest R 1 billion in three Durban hotels.
Thus, renewing and regenerating Durban’s beachfront.
RENEWED LEASE FOR BEACHFRONT HOTEL
Southern Sun Hotels has renewed a lease on a major hotel property located on the Durban beachfront. The lease relates to the Elangeni and Maharani Hotel.
Southern Sun has signed a 50-year lease with the Ethekwini Metro, the property owners. Securing the lease is set to result in a revamp of this and other hotels located on the Durban beachfront.
Significantly, this hotel happens to be one of the largest hotel properties in South Africa, with 734 guest rooms.
REFURBISHMENT PLANS
The hospitality company will refurbish the hotel and other Durban beachfront hotels it operates.
Moneyweb reports that Southern Sun will revamp facilities at the Elangeni and Maharani, the Garden Court South Beach and the Edward Hotel.
“The redevelopment entails an estimated capital investment of R1 billion, including the refurbishment of the Elangeni and Maharani hotels as well as the Garden Court South Beach and The Edward hotels which are also owned by Southern Sun,” eThekwini Metro said.
END OF LEASE AGREEMENT
The existing lease for the Elangeni and Maharani Hotel is expected to end next year.
With Southern Sun’s lease on the property nearing its end, the eThekwini Municipality decided to open up opportunities to other interested parties. However, Southern Sun was in fact the only bidder to submit a bid for the property.
Southern Sun has again entered a 50-year lease for the hotel property located on the Durban beachfront.
COMMITMENT TO DURBAN BEACHFRONT
The hotel operator has thus shown a commitment to Durban and will spend almost R1 billion to lure guests back to the beachfront, by investing in it and other nearby properties.
The area is also set for revival with regeneration plans for Sunken Gardens, a park located near the beachfront hotels.
“In addition, a fund of R5 million will be made available to restore and maintain the Sunken Gardens, a historically significant park owned by the municipality on the beachfront in front of the hotels,” the Municipality said.
BREATHING LIFE INTO DURBAN BEACHFRONT
It is hoped that the revamp of these hotels will breathe new life into Durban’s beachfront area. In recent years the city and beachfront areas have fallen out of favour with holidaymakers.
This is due to a number of reasons. These include crumbling infrastructure and elevated crime risks. High e.coli counts in the sea have often resulted in beach closures, driving tourists to other parts of the KwaZulu-Natal coastline.
Other towns in the province have in fact reported growing numbers of visitors heading their way in recent years.
Last year on 1 May, Durban’s beachfront bid farewell to its iconic amusement park, Funworld. This longstanding tourist attraction created energy and activity along the beachfront.
Do you think this will help to revive Durban’s beachfront area?
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