Despite being the largest casino and leisure complex in South Africa, for over 21 years GrandWest’s boutique Grand Hotel has operated at a 99% occupancy, with its 39 rooms booked long in advance.
To satisfy demand, Sun International is now investing R122 million to expand the 4-star hotel to over 100 rooms.
Sun International’s investment is the first phase of a master plan that envisages developing a separate 250-room, a 4-star conference hotel at GrandWest.
The Cape Town casino and leisure complex is the largest in South Africa so customer demand to stay at its existing hotel is high.
A sod-turning ceremony to mark the occasion was officiated by the Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis and Ndavi Nokeri, Miss South Africa 2022.
Speaking at the event, GrandWest general manager Mervyn Naidoo said, “Until now we have been unable to market our hotel because it is always fully booked. Having a 99% occupancy would be a happy problem for any hotel, but we look forward to October 2023 when we can welcome even more guests.”
The current Grand Hotel is a recreation of an older hotel that used to grace the corner of Adderley and Strand Street, originally built in 1894 and demolished in 1951.
When the existing hotel was constructed, architects used a scaled-down version of the first Grand Hotel’s 100-year-old plans.
For the ages
The challenge for architects now has been to keep the extension consistent with the original architectural plan and style since all of GrandWest’s facades are scaled-down recreations of old Cape Town buildings.
Hassan Adams, co-founder of GrandWest, said GrandWest was designed and built so that it can stand for another 100 years.
“One of the things we live for is the experience of Cape Town, to live for a history of time. For our kids and grandchildren to see what architecture is all about.
“I worked here, helped build this place, 18 hours a day, we built it in record time. Before you used to talk about fast-tracking construction, we flash-tracked this, we built this whole place in 11 months and people could not believe it. And quite frankly it is because of the dedication of all the people, the construction managers, and everyone involved.
“And today we sit with a hotel that does not age because it has aged already, it is history, we are just replicating what we had in a three quarter, whether it is District Six, they are all places of interest. It tells you a story of where this architecture and the buildings come from.”
Once upon a time, a big dustpan
Hill-Lewis in his speech remembered the location of the current GrandWest just being an enormous dustpan. And at the corner was a big blue roof, that was the Goodwood Ice Rink.
“We used to come down here and skate. To see what it has become in the Cape Town community and landscape and to take part in its further growth and development is very special,” he said.
“It is great to see the expansion, it is great to see Cape Town’s history, culture, and diversity being weaved into the extension of this building.”
Hill-Lewis added that as one of the first big projects getting off the ground after Covid, this expansion is vital to Cape Town’s economy since the city, more so than any other place in SA, is dependent on tourism, travel and entertainment.
Job creation
In accordance Franchesca Walker Ward 26 councilor in Goodwood, said this investment is also a significant step towards job creation in subcouncil 4.
“Contractors will be taking on smaller business owners, and an R122 million investment within sub-council four is a wow moment for me.
“I am happy to be at the helm of things, where we can say, investment is back into town. GrandWest has supported our communities exceptionally well throughout Covid, our soup kitchens, and our kids. It is not just about where people have money to spend at the hotel but also, they are giving back to those in need.”
Nokeri said she is so happy to be part of this extension, because of the number of jobs it will create.
“There are so many events that can take place here, and I think it is going to be a great influx for the economy of South Africa.”
Nokeri said she absolutely loves working with GrandWest. “
We get to see the impact that they make in the community and in everything that they do. It impacts at the core of that, so I am always wanting to make an impact, so it is an amazing space for me to be in.”
Naidoo added that this extension will create 15 permanent jobs for staff in the hotel and another 300 temporary jobs for the duration of the construction.
