Tsogo Sun has for many years featured prominently on Durban’s Golden Mile. Southern Sun Elangeni, Southern Sun North Beach, Garden Court Marine Parade, Garden Court South Beach, and the SunCoast Casino and Entertainment World including the SunSquare and the SunCoast Towers hotels, offer exceptional variety for leisure and business alike.
Tsogo Sun is retaining its commitment to Durban through the refurbishment, consolidation and relaunch of the Southern Sun Elangeni and Southern Sun North Beach hotels into one magnificent complex – Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani.
“Tsogo Sun’s investment in the Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani complex is a direct response to the substantial investment into the revival of the Durban beachfront promenade by the eThekwini Municipality, which has seen the destination being upgraded and we are proud to be a part of it,” states Marcel von Aulock, Tsogo Sun’s Chief Executive Officer.
Commenting on Tsogo Sun’s investment into Durban’s Golden Mile, Mayor of eThekwini James Nxumalo says, “We are delighted at the role that Tsogo Sun is playing in adding to the renewed vibrancy of Durban. 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. The merger of these two Tsogo Sun hotels – which are such significant landmarks on the Durban beachfront and which carry such historical stature– is of great significance to the positioning of the Durban beachfront, signalling the confidence of investors in the precinct.”
The first phase of the project, which will be completed in time for the Tourism Indaba in May 2013, will consist of:
• The total refurbishment of the Maharani Tower, including the bedrooms, core infrastructure, the conference centre and public areas
• Substantial new food and beverage offerings within the Elangeni Tower
• The rework of the Porte Cochere’s creating a sense of arrival and better access to the complex
• The renovation of the external building facades
The complex facilities include 734 stylish bedrooms; two well-equipped gyms; three swimming pools, with one heated pool; free Wi Fi connectivity; 17 meeting and conference rooms; two fully- equipped business centres; and eleven 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 Grill House 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; the Ocean Breeze Restaurant, a laid-back Indian Ocean Island styled restaurant with a view second to none where guests can indulge in an Island-style buffet, with the emphasis on seafood and line-fish to flatbreads and crispy pizza, fresh out of the authentic pizza oven; to old favourites such as Daruma, Durban’s iconic Japanese restaurant, the Lingela Restaurant which, from breakfast to dinner, is one of the top traditional buffet restaurants in the country, offering a variety of dishes to suit every palate; and Piatto Mediterranean Kitchen, offering an a la carte menu for both lunch and dinner, serving traditional Italian, Greek, and Portuguese cuisine.
Phase two will see the opening in the third quarter of 2013, of The Camelot Spa, which will feature 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 multipurpose venue on top of the Maharani Tower available for conferences, launches, themed evenings and a myriad of other events with breathtaking views.
The final phase will include a refurbishment of the Elangeni rooms and additional public areas and
once complete, Tsogo Sun would have invested a total of R220 million.
Adds von Aulock, “We have great confidence in Durban and a significant investment in its future, 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 – one that offers a rich playground of activities, hospitality and events. 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. This development is directly in line with Tsogo Sun’s vision to provide the greatest possible variety of quality hospitality, leisure, gaming, and entertainment experiences at every one of our destinations.”
