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South African Business 2020 edition

  • Text
  • Infrastructure
  • Energy
  • Maritime
  • Trade
  • Tourism
  • Regional
  • Province
  • Industry
  • Economy
  • Investor
  • Invest
  • Africa
  • Africa
  • Sector
  • Investment
  • Business
  • Industrial
  • Projects
  • Economic
  • Mining
A unique guide to business and investment in South Africa. Welcome to the eighth edition of the South African Business journal. First published in 2011, the publication has established itself as the premier business and investment guide to South Africa. Regular pages cover all the main economic sectors of the South African economy and give a snapshot of each of the country’s provincial economies. A special feature focusses on the huge potential for growth and job creation which the tourism industry holds. The possibilities presented by the age of renewable energy for the mining industry is the topic of another special feature and the CEO of Minerals Council South Africa responds to a set of questions on the state of mining in the country. South African Business is complemented by nine regional publications covering the business and investment environment in each of South Africa’s provinces.

SPECIAL FEATURE Armada

SPECIAL FEATURE Armada Consortium will spend R175-million on the financing‚ construction‚ maintenance and operation of a cruise terminal for a 25-year concession period. The Port of Cape Town has launched its dedicated cruise-ship terminal, and the area between the terminal and the Cape Town International Convention Centre is being developed as a multi-use precinct called The Yacht Club. A significant move in the South African hotel sector is the decision by Marriott International to develop Marriott-branded hotels in the country. On the eastern edge of Cape Town’s Foreshore, an ambitious plan envisages two new hotels, flats, retail space and offices rising out of ground currently occupied by three car dealerships and a roadworthy station on Christiaan Barnard Street. The Harbour Arch concept is based on Johannesburg’s Melrose Arch, with seven tower blocks to be constructed on 200 000m², roughly half the footprint of the V&A Waterfront. In 2018 Autograph Collection Hotels, another Marriott International brand, acquired five African Pride Hotels in South Africa. These range from properties in Cape Town and Johannesburg to a lodge in the small town of Irene and a mountain getaway in the Magaliesburg mountains. Buying into Protea Hotels has given Marriott access not only to the South African market, but to many other African countries. The company now operates 61 hotels in South Africa across six brands, with a total of 8 000 rooms. Neal Jones is Marriott International’s Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Middle East and Africa. He says the company has another five hotels under development which will add more than 1 000 more rooms. Still more brands are due to be rolled out: Residence Inn by Marriott and Marriott Executive Apartments. Jones describes South Africa as “one of our key markets and strategic to our growth”. Says Jones, “With our diverse brands we pretty much have a brand for every type of traveller.” Marriott is embracing new technology. “They key is to balance hi-tech with hi-touch,” comments Jones. “So technology becomes an enabler for our guests to experience a more personalised experience and to do this seamlessly.” Through the Marriott Bonvoy app, guests can check in and make requests. Tsogo Sun Holdings split its casino and hotel operations in 2019 in order to unlock value in the two sectors. With a market cap of R25- billion, Tsogo is the country’s biggest hotel group. It has 36 hotels and three casinos in Gauteng. The hotels range across several brands covering four market segments. SunSquare, Southern Sun Hotels, Southern Sun Resorts, Garden Court and StayEasy are among the group’s brands. In the Cape Town CBD 500 new rooms have been added to the city’s stock, courtesy of two Tsogo Sun hotels, plus a smaller hotel in the De Waterkant (Capital Mirage). Tsogo Sun already operates several hotels in greater Cape Town, including three full-service hotels in the city centre, the Cullinan, Southern Sun Waterfront and Southern Sun Cape Sun. The other seven hotels cover five brands in the Tsogo Sun stable. Peermont Hotels, Casinos and Resorts has added the Emerald Resort & Casino to its portfolio of properties. Peermont purchased the Vanderbijlpark property from US company Caesars Entertainment Corporation, which brings to 11 the number of casino resorts it runs on the subcontinent. Located on the Vaal River, Emerald Resort has a water park, a game park, a spa and several restaurants. Peermont’s suite of four hotels in the Emperors Palace complex next to OR Tambo International Airport, also houses a large casino where players have access to 1 724 slot machines and 67 tables. The Kruger National Park is one of South Africa’s great tourism assets and the Thebe Tourism Group has come up with a unique new way to enjoy the reserve. It has refurbished a train as a hotel and parked it on a bridge on the Sabie River, famous for its buffalo and hippo. The Kruger Shalati Development is one of three developments in Mpumalanga being undertaken by Thebe. The other two are the Blyde Canyon Community Project and proposed developments for Lisbon Estate which is adjacent to Kruger Park. The Lisbon development (not far from Skukuza Camp) is projected to comprise two hotels, retail, hospitality and dining facilities and staff housing associated with the Lisbon Estate. SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2020 34

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