Tsogo Sun’s iconic Sandton Sun hotel has returned to its rightful place as a sophisticated and modern landmark in the area, following an investment of R210 million into its recently undertaken refurbishment.
The 31-year-old hotel is situated in a prime location within the busy and exclusive business and retail hub of Sandton, and has been repositioned as a gateway into the Sandton City shopping centre. With street and hotel access linking it with Sandton City’s new Diamond Walk, which is described as ‘Africa’s definitive luxury and super-luxury retail destination’, the hotel is a natural asset to the centre and to the city of Johannesburg.
Says Marcel von Aulock, CEO of Tsogo Sun, “This refurbishment has strengthened Tsogo Sun’s position in Sandton even further – as a leader in Africa’s most influential node with three hotels in excellent locations, as well as the Sandton Convention Centre. We are proud to have been a partner to Liberty and Pareto in managing this spectacular property on their behalf and to have been the hospitality partner of Sandton City for over three decades.”
Describing the revamp, Sandton Sun General Manager, Peter Davidson, says, “We focused on taking the detail into account when we planned the refurbishment, ensuring that we incorporated simple things that will make our guests’ stay more enjoyable – and that we offer everything that a guest might need.”
With the refurbishment, the number of hotel rooms has reduced by eight to 326 spacious rooms and suites that have been designed to be luxurious with all the necessary conveniences and comfort. “We created a feature in selected rooms where people can sit and work, ensuring we added touches such as USB points. The bathrooms have been rebuilt to luxurious standards,” says Davidson.
Throughout the hotel, furniture has been refurbished and repurposed where possible, and the ambience is slick and sophisticated, while still offering every guest a home away from home. The ‘new’ Sandton Sun, says Davidson, is now ahead of the game; it is the preferred property among the luxury hotels in the area.
The refurbishment was jointly funded by the property owners, Pareto and Liberty, with responsibility for the design concept and implementation, as well as the operational issues relating to the refurb being handled by Tsogo Sun. “We are proud to have contributed to Liberty’s ability to attract luxury global brands to the Diamond Walk, making Sandton an incredibly exciting shopping destination for locals and tourists from all over the world,” concludes Von Aulock.
