Luxury conferencing in the tropics | The Planner

SSMaputo5B7E0627Having recently undergone a renovation, The Southern Sun Maputo Hotel now offers excellent facilities and service combined with an idyllic location for conferences and events.

The hotel went through a four month, USD30 million refurbishment last year, which included the addition of conference facilities and 111 rooms, refurbishing of the existing 158 rooms and public areas, and expanding the restaurant, lobby, and back-of-house facilities. It is now the largest hotel in the Mozambican capital.

The hotel is extremely accessible as it is a short one-hour flight from Johannesburg or Durban and seven minutes from Maputo International Airport. It is located right on the beautiful tropical beach on the Bay of Maputo and offers guests breathtaking views of the bay and the Indian Ocean.

The new conference venues, which feature natural light and magnificent ocean views, can accommodate both large and small conferences or events in a range of venues. The largest venue, the Mphama, is ideal for meetings and seminars and is over 216m², with cinema-style seating for up to 150 people. Mphama 1 and 2 can be used for smaller conferences and can be subdivided for up to 70 and 80 people each. The Acacia and Mikaya rooms can seat 18 people each and can be used for small intimate meetings. A fully equipped business centre in the hotel offers guests the convenience of office work space and facilities should they be needed.

The 269 guest rooms in the hotel include nine executive rooms, four deluxe suites, and one presidential suite, all of which are luxurious and beautifully appointed.

The close proximity of the beach also allows organisers to include beach activities in their programmes, such as team building, themed lunches, or even tea breaks. Exciting excursions can also be arranged from the hotel such as day trips to Xefina Island, Portuguese Island, and Inhaca Island. Other must-see local attractions include the Railway Station, Fortress, Central Market, City Hall, Cathedral, and the famous Mafalala Cultural and Political district.

Catering can all be arranged through the refurbished Evolve Restaurant, which specialises in international cuisine, combined with the famous exotic and delicious flavours and ingredients of Mozambique. Tailor-made menus to suit every taste, appetite, occasion, celebration, or dietary requirement can be developed in conjunction with the hotel staff.

“Conferences and events are special occasions that deserve a touch of the spectacular, such as a luxury hotel on a tropical beach can offer – with highly trained and friendly staff who pay attention to the detail of every guest requirement. That’s what we’re achieving at Southern Sun Maputo, and it’s going down well with the business and private events we are already hosting in the hotel,” says Bruce Chapman, General Manager of Southern Sun Maputo.