Archive for March, 2008

Friday, March 28th, 2008

The 5 star CAPE GRACE HOTEL in Cape Town IS REFASHIONING

Following the completion of our recently re-decorated Reception and Library, we are delighted to announce the start of the highly anticipated and incredibly exciting REFASHIONING of Cape Grace’s 121 rooms and suites (including bathrooms), passages and lobbies.

Well respected Cape Town interior designer Kathi Weixelbaumer will begin transforming the look and feel on 1 April 2008, starting at the top with our 4th floor. Weixelbaumer has long been established as a designer of repute with custom-decorated private homes being her main focus to date. She has a talent for juxtaposing the modern with period and the rare with the humble, whilst embracing all with spontaneity and excitement.

Guests will experience not only beautiful décor, but also the charm of the Cape’s history and the beauty of the botanical kingdom which gives the region its rich and colourful character. The understated elegance and complete sense of place which guests have become accustomed to will remain, as fascinating stories of the past combined with modern design elements unfold in the guest rooms and suites.

Together with a team of local small businesses, Weixelbaumer Design will reach a new level of individuality with the result being a variety of distinctively designed rooms, nothing like hotel décor seen to date.

With each floor taking approximately 5 weeks to refashion, the project is due for completion in September 2008.

The time parameter of 10am to 4pm daily – the hours during which most guests are out sightseeing – has been set for work that involves noise. Workmen will be unobtrusive in their entry to the work area and will not be using the front entrance to the hotel. Guests will not have access to the floor being refashioned.

Two project managers have been appointed to oversee the refashioning so that Nigel Pace and his dedicated team can focus on delivering exceptional service as usual.

We are confident that the impact on guests will be minimal with the end result of the refashioning revealing a refreshed sense of place and understated elegance that Cape Grace is renowned for. However, as a gesture of goodwill, Cape Grace is offering one of the following complimentary experiences to each guest staying at the hotel during this period:

• Lunch at Bascule Whisky, Wine and Cocktail Bar
• Lunch at “theshowroom” restaurant
• Wine tasting and tapas at Caveau Wine Bar and Deli
• Table Mountain cable car ticket
• Cape Grace picnic voucher
• Open top, city sightseeing bus ride

(Certain conditions apply to each offer. Details will be printed on vouchers.)

We will be updating you on a regular basis during this time of transformation. Please look out for our bi-monthly newsletter which will allow you to click through to our website’s dedicated refashioning page. You are encouraged to visit this section of the website for up to date information and photographs tracking the development of the rooms from 1 March onwards.

In addition, we will be running an exciting refashioning competition offering fantastic prizes. To participate in this competition please click here.
Please note that should you have guests booked into our 4th floor rooms ie. rooftop rooms or penthouses during April, our reservations team will be contacting you shortly to discuss alternative room categories available over this time.

Friday, March 28th, 2008

The 5 star Pezula Hotel Resort & Spa, Knysna South Africa

We are proud to announce that Pezula Spa has been selected as one of The World’s 100 Best Spas in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Spa Awards 2008. In addition, it was voted one of The Top 10 Best Spas in Africa, Middle East and Indian Ocean.
These are the 5th annual Readers’ Spa Awards and the first time that Pezula Spa has made the prestigious list. Each spa is scored out of a maximum of 100 points to give an index of satisfaction with spa facilities and services. Readers were asked to choose the best that the spa world has to offer from urban day spas to spa retreats, hotel spas around the world and medical/thermal spas. Criteria included ambience/décor, body treatments, cuisine and service/staff. Pezula Spa’s overall satisfaction percentage was an incredible 91.84%.
This latest accolade comes hot on the heels of being voted one of The Top 15 Overseas Hotel Spas in the 2007 Condé Nast Traveller UK Readers’ Travel Awards. Last year we were also awarded Best Resort Hotel Spa in South Africa by Les Nouvelles Esthétiques and Destination Spa of the Year by the Shape Magazine/ Professional Beauty Awards.
Friday, March 28th, 2008

The Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton offers sumptuous fare for Easter Weekend

Easter is a time for celebration and a time for sharing with loved ones. The Easter season is rich with symbolism and tradition whether you’re breaking the fast of Lent, celebrating Passover or simply looking forward to a long weekend of indulging in chocolate Easter eggs.

With your culinary delight in mind, the Piccolo Mondo at The Michelangelo, has put together sumptuous Easter fare to treat and tantalise you and your children. There is something in store for everyone.


Start your Easter festivities with a delicious Easter breakfast or delectable lunch, complete with a decadent chocolate affair, served in the Piccolo Mondo….

Friday, March 28th, 2008

The Sunnyside Park Hotel’s refurbishment progressing well

The extensive refurbishment and expansion which began at Sunnyside Park Hotel in November 2007 is well on its way to completion. “The hotel is very well known in Johannesburg and we are aiming to improve the experience of old patrons and draw in new patrons with a fresh look and upgraded facilities,” says general manager Ralph Klinkenberg.
The three new rooms which were built over looking the swimming pool where completed and open for bookings in December last year
.

Friday, March 28th, 2008

MOUNT NELSON HOTEL MAKES LIGHT DESPITE LOAD SHEDDING

Businesses and households throughout South Africa are experiencing the dark side of the country’s intermittent power cuts, but thanks to a state of the art generator system, Mount Nelson Hotel is capable of running at one hundred percent power, even during a complete blackout.

Two years ago, when Cape Town first experienced the effects of the electricity crisis, the hotel’s management team decided that the R5 million investment required to install it’s two cutting-edge generators was well worth it to ensure the comfort and security of its guests. ‘Generally hotels and guesthouses have some form of emergency generator system to cover basics like elevators and lighting in public areas, but the Mount Nelson is the only hotel in the country to ensure full power across our entire property – including all hotel rooms, all banqueting and conference venues, the Oasis and Cape Colony restaurants, Planet Bar, and the soon to be opened Librisa spa.

These generators also cover all air-conditioning and IT equipment’, says Nick Seewer, Managing Director of Mount Nelson Hotel and Orient-Express Hotels Africa. The two 1000 kilowatt generators are capable of producing enough power to run approximately 200 average South African households, yet the system is surprisingly energy efficient, running off low sulphur diesel. It’s also remarkably quiet – at 65 decibels, it’s quieter than an average passing car. The two generators are able to ‘communicate’ with each other and the city’s main power grid to determine the hotel’s power requirements and ensure a full power supply within eleven seconds of there being an outage.

And to assure glitch-free conferences and events, a sophisticated controller system has been installed to guarantee a seamless transition when the power source is reinstated.

Friday, March 28th, 2008

THE CAPE GRACE HOTEL, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town ( South Africa)

Taste of Cape Town is an amazing four day celebration of fine food and drink, set in the elegant outdoor environment of Camps Bay High, accentuated by delightful music and entertainment.
This summer, 16 of Cape Town’s top restaurants and chefs have been invited to serve a stunning selection of sample sized signature dishes to Taste of Cape Town visitors.
Executive chef, Phil Alcock will be flying the Cape Grace flag high, serving dishes such as his chilled cherry tomato gazpacho served with a tabasco stick, basil chip and a red pepper syrup as well as another favourite, the butternut and cinnamon ice cream in a chocolate and almond cone.
Taste of Cape Town takes place from 3 to 6 April 2008 – an exclusive event celebrating the City’s most prestigious chefs and restaurants and a fantastic opportunity to try new places, explore different cuisines and plan a whole year of dining out!

Friday, March 28th, 2008

We are delighted to announce the start of the highly anticipated and incredibly exciting REFASHIONING of Cape Grace’s 121 rooms and suites (including bathrooms), passages and lobbies.

Well respected Cape Town interior designer Kathi Weixelbaumer will begin transforming the look and feel on 1 April 2008, starting at the top with our 4th floor.

Guests will experience not only beautiful décor, but also the charm of the Cape’s history and the beauty of the botanical kingdom which gives the region its rich and colourful character. The understated elegance and complete sense of place which guests have become accustomed to will remain, as fascinating stories of the past combined with modern design elements unfold in the guest rooms and suites.

Together with a team of local small businesses, Weixelbaumer Design will reach a new level of individuality with the result being a variety of distinctively designed rooms, nothing like hotel décor seen to date.

Friday, March 28th, 2008

Please be advised that the following restaurants in the Sun City Hotel will be closed for a limited period of time.

This is due to the refurbishment of the Sun City Hotel which affects the two restaurants.

The Orchid Restaurant will be closed from 01 – 30 April 2008 (inclusive)

The Calabash Restaurant will be closed from 31 March 2008 to 06 April 2008 (inclusive)

The Calabash buffet dinner will be available for group reservations at the Gary Player Country Club.

Wednesday, March 19th, 2008

Sandton is 30 minutes from Johannesburg International Airport, NELSON MANDELA SQUARE at Sandton City is surrounded by world-class hotels and restaurants. The popular Sandton City Shopping Centre is adjacent to the Square and the Sandton Convention Centre which is located just a stone’s throw away can accommodate up to 10,000 delegates at a time.

Experience the best Sandton has to offer with a range of tours, hotel accommodation, galleries and sightseeing activities. Sandton Central has a total of 10 hotels all of exceptionally high standards with over 2500 bed nights. Sandton Central offers four world-class shopping centres, with over 450 shops, which means there is no shortage of place to take in hours of retail therapy. The assortment of over 90 restaurants, bars and cafes in Sandton Central means that day or night, fine dining or a fast food snack, you will never be short of options to wet your appetite. Sandton Central believes very strongly in the promotion and use of art as a way to inject life and soul into the public space and there is much planning on the go around projects for the streets. This drive to promote the arts is enhanced by the many galleries and the theatre within our area. And finally, for those who come out at night, Sandton Central offers an environment of trendy venues, which means you will never be short of night life options.

The Square, designed to bring to life an Italian styled piazza under the African sky is a major focal point of Sandton Central – completed after a decade of robust interactions between local government and various private enterprise players. On the 31st of March 2004 the world’s first public statue of Nelson Mandela – was officially unveiled in Johannesburg, South Africa at an auspicious occasion held in what was then Sandton Square, now renamed NELSON MANDELA SQUARE at Sandton City. This celebratory event also marked the Square’s tenth anniversary and commemorated South Africa’s first decade of democracy

The six-metre tall bronze statue was erected to honour and pay tribute to the great South African freedom fighter and statesman: President Nelson Mandela. The intention was also to create a focal point where local and foreign tourists could contemplate the events that led to the creation of the miracle of the Rainbow Nation.

To this end NELSON MANDELA SQUARE at Sandton City introduced talks and tours so visitors can be inspired. Sandton is, without a doubt the most important business and financial district in South Africa, and plausibly even in sub-Saharan Africa.

Recomended Sandton Hotels

Courtyard Sandton Hotel
City Lodge Hotel
Balalaika Sandton Hotel
Michelangelo Towers Hotel
The Michelangelo Hotel
Palazzo Montecasino Hotel
Sandton Sun Hotel
Sandton Towers Johannesburg
Southern Sun Katherine Street Hotel
Raphael Penthouse Suites Hotel
Fairlawns Boutique Hotel

Saturday, March 15th, 2008

 

For those who demand the best……exclusivity, security, sophisticated luxury living awaits at a discreet location within Cape Town’s world-famous V&A; Waterfront! A brand new and exciting hotel located in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. The sister hotel to the Victoria and Alfred Hotel.
Location: Built as the grand residence and offices to the Harbour Engineer in the mid-1800’s, Dock House boasts a proud heritage. Dock House is located alongside Timeball Tower in the V&A; Waterfront’s Portswood Precint and now, under the guidance of distinguished hotel specialists, the Ambassador Group, this heritage property has undergone a transformation to be recognised as one of Cape Town’s most elite luxury boutique hotels.
Accommodation: Intimate and private, the villa-styled hotel offers five (5) spacious individually decorated rooms – four of which have balconies overlooking the Waterfront’s vibrant harbour area – and one (1) glamorous suite. The suite boasts a private garden and each room is equipped with a stylish private bar and state-of-the-art designer bathroom.
Special Services & Facilities
· Complimentary parking available (add to fact sheet)
· ONEwellness state of the art spa & a world class gym operating from 06:00 – 22:00
· In room hairstylist upon request
· Private gentlemen’s study
· Business Services
· Travel services
· Heated outdoor swimming pool with bar and al fresco dining
· Luxury air-conditioned Limousine service for airport, city and restaurant transfers
· For absolute exclusivity, the entire Dock House villa may be booked for personal and private use at an additional charge
· The sun-filled morning room will cater for breakfast, lunch and private dinners for residence.
· Half an acre of uninterrupted lawn, in a garden setting providing views of Table Mountain and the Waterfront’s vibrant harbour, making it the ideal venue to host your wedding.
· Weddings can be catered for 50 to 150 guests. Upon request, a wedding package can be tailor-made to ensure memories to last a lifetime.
Room Sizes
Suite 1: 65.4 m²
Room 2: 52.8 m²
Room 3: 55.1 m²
Room 4: 38.4 m²
Room 5: 46.6 m²
Room 6: 40.8 m²
Room Amenities
· Individually controlled air conditioning and under floor heating
· En-suite bathrooms with separate bath, toilet & shower
· Luxury bathroom amenities
· Bathrobes & slippers
· Plasma & LCD screen televisions with individual satellite decoders providing 75 channels of viewing pleasure
· High speed wireless internet connectivity
· Electronic safes
· International plugs
· Serviced twice daily
· Luxurious 100% Chinese cottonlinen & duck feather & down pillows
· Fully stocked private bar
· Daily newspapers
· 24 hour, personalised, unobtrusive butler-style service
Nearby attractions: With its prime location within the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, guests at Dock House will not be short of easily accessible entertainment options. A host of world-class restaurants, cinemas, craft markets, upmarket shopping facilities, the Nobel Peace Square, the Two Oceans Aquarium and the Platinum Mile are all within walking distance of Dock House. The port, Jetty 2 is also within walking distance, which makes Dock House easily accessible for passengers on board luxury cruise liners.
Other nearby attractions includes:
· Museums
· Boat Cruises
· Beaches
· Table Mountain
· Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
· Cape Point
· Robben Island
· The Winelands
· Township Tours
General Information
Distances:
Cape Town International Airport 25 km
Cape Town ICC ≤1 km
Cape Town CBD ≤3 km
Directions
Exit the Airport and continue for approx 3 km – Merge onto the N2 HIGHWAY – Follow N2 STAD/CITY signs – After approx 18 km move into lane with M6/SEA POINT/WATERFRONT SIGN – Continue over traffic light into LOWER BUITENGRACHT until the first set of traffic lights. Turn right at traffic light into HANS STRYDOM AVENUE. Move into lane PORTSWOOD ROAD/V&A; WATERFRONT. Turn right at traffic lights down into PORTSWOOD ROAD. Turnright at the entrance of the COMMODORE HOTEL; continue driving till you reach a security officer at the boom. Continue straight ahead (Dock House is approximately 100 m away). Alternatively go to the Victoria & Alfred Hotel in the heart of the Waterfront and you’ll be directed to Dock House.