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Taj Hotels and Resorts moves into South Africa
The Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) – which operates Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces – has begun construction work on its first property in South Africa, a R300m (£22m, US$41.4m 32.3m euro) hotel at Mandela Place in Cape Town.
The 174-room and 20-luxury residence hotel will form part of phase two of the R1bn (£73m, US$138m 107.6m euro) lifestyle complex being developed by Eurocape in Cape Town’s central business district.
Phase one, which is scheduled for completion by the end of this year, includes restaurants, bars, Cape Town’s first fully operational inner city winery, a wellness centre, offices, fitness club, swimming pool and roof-top garden.
The hotel, which is due to open towards the end of 2008, is being developed within two heritage buildings comprising the Old Reserve Bank, the Board of Executors Building and the old Cape of Good Hope Bank.
“South Africa has been growing rapidly as a tourist destination, with tourism being one of the government’s key economic drivers. We want to leverage the potential of the market and Cape Town is recognised as the most developed tourist market in South Africa,” said Raymond Bickson, managing director and CEO of IHCL.
The company also plans to develop two further hotels in Johannesburg and Durban. Details: www.tajhotels.com