9 April 2013
South African hotel and casino operator Tsogo Sun is to invest R220-million in Durban’s famed “Golden Mile” through refurbishing and combining its Southern Sun Elangeni and Southern Sun North Beach hotels into one complex, the Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani.
Tsogo Sun’s investment was “a direct response to the substantial investment into the revival of the Durban beachfront promenade by the eThekwini Municipality,” Tsogo Sun CEO Marcel von Aulock said in a statement last week.
eThekwini Mayor James Nxumalo welcomed Tsogo Sun’s announcement, saying “there is so much good news to be told about the renewal of the city – with corporates coming back to the city centre, the International Convention Centre’s status as a leading convention centre in the country, the rescue of the iconic Durban Country Club, and the location of the Moses Mabhida stadium all contributing to the revitalisation of the city”.
According to Tsogo Sun, the first phase of the project, which will be completed in May, will include the total refurbishment of the Maharani Tower, substantial new food and beverage offerings within the Elangeni Tower, and the renovation of the external building facades.
The second phase will see the opening in the third quarter of 2013 of The Camelot Spa, featuring five treatment rooms, a double treatment room with a hydro therapy bath and a Himalayan salt room in the Elangeni Tower.
The historic Raffles area is being transformed into a multi-purpose venue on top of the Maharani Tower available for conferences, launches and themed evenings with breathtaking views.
The final phase will include a refurbishment of the Elangeni rooms and additional public areas.
The Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani complex will boast 734 bedrooms, two gyms, three swimming pools, 17 meeting and conference rooms, two business centres, and 11 restaurants and bars offering a variety of a la carte and buffet meal options.
The restaurants will include new offerings ranging from The Grill Jichana, “a modern and stylish grillhHouse with great food in a convivial ambience”, the Panorama Bar & Pool Deck, “a bar and light food zone with views of the coastline, serving cocktails, mezes, ice creams, granitas and light meals throughout the day”, and the Ocean Breeze Restaurant, “a laid-back Indian Ocean Island styled restaurant with a view second to none”.
Visitors will still be able to enjoy old favourites such as Japanese restaurant Daruma, Piatto Mediterranean Kitchen, and the Lingela Restaurant, “one of the top traditional buffet restaurants in the country”.
“We have great confidence in Durban, and it is our sincere belief that we have a responsibility to support the City to ensure that it achieves its full potential as the premier leisure and event city in South Africa,” said Von Aulock.
“We believe that the positioning of the Southern Sun Elangeni and Maharani hotel complex combined with quality offerings and service will breathe new energy, life and soul into the Durban beachfront.”
SAinfo reporter
