Durban - KwaZulu-Natal’s largest hotel is trying to woo Durban customers.
Instead of trying to get them to book into the newly merged Southern Sun Elangeni and Maharani hotel the plan is to turn the new creation into a hub where people can relax and have something to eat and drink while down at the beach.
The hotel, rebranded last week from the separate Southern Sun Elangeni and Southern Sun North Beach hotels to the now longish name, makes it the biggest hotel in KwaZulu-Natal, with 734 rooms.
“When the city revamped the beachfront, we wanted to do our bit and start investing, and Durban is an amazing destination, so with the combined rooms and 15 conference rooms between the two towers, we have a bigger capacity for functions and holidaymakers,” said general manager Samantha Croft who oversees the two bustling towers.
The R220 million upgrade, included extending the lay-by for vehicles to pass through, updating the look of the porte-cochère, revamping the pool deck at the Elangeni tower, creating two new restaurant facilities, adding more greenery to the outside of the buildings, adding LED lights to the old lift shaft at the Maharani tower, and updating the interior of the Maharani.
Work still to be undertaken includes revamping the pool area at the back of the Elangeni, creating a Camelot spa, and converting the old Raffles nightclub into a multipurpose conference venue.
“We aimed to get phase one ready by last Friday, which we did, and launch the new place in time for the international delegates at the Tourism Indaba to see the changes and experience it first-hand, and we’ve had a great response so far,” said Croft.
The Elangeni tower sports the Grill Jichana – which replaced the old Jewel of India – Daruma, Lingela, Connors Bar, Ocean Breeze restaurant and Panorama Bar, the latter being on the pool deck on the second floor. The pool deck revamp cost R12m.
“We’ve raised the pool deck so that it seems to flow into the ocean, making it a perfect spot for someone who has spent time at the beach to come and have a light lunch at the new bar area, or some frozen yoghurt, and if they want they can even have a dip in the heated pool even though you aren’t staying at the hotel,” said Croft.
Welcoming people to the pool area is part of their efforts to encourage people living in the area to visit the hotel.
This is also the plan with the Grill Jichana.
“Jichana means to eat good or eat well in Swahili, the language spoken in east Africa, and this is what we want people to experience when they come in here,” said Croft.
The restaurant, which sports a wine cellar which people can go into and choose their wines, is open for dinner and has a side entrance for people who may not want to enter via the Elangeni’s reception area.
“Most people think hotel restaurants are overpriced, but this new grill restaurant is commercially priced. I think this place will become very popular among locals,” said Croft.
At the Maharani Tower, the Piatto and Panini restaurants are open.
The famous lift that ran on the outside of the building will not be operating. Instead, LED lights have been installed along the wall up to the 32nd floor, which plays different colours and sequences between 6.30pm and 6.30am.
“This just adds some colour and fun to the area,” she said.
“And yes, the Maluti residents have benefited with a slight facelift to the front of their building so that the area from the Elangeni to the Maharani looks unified,” she said.
As part of the last phase, a pergola structure will be constructed between the hotels. - Independent on Saturday