KZN hotel group expands portfolio from four to ten
While the global hospitality industry is facing unprecedented challenges and obstacles in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, development sentiment remains optimistic among KwaZulu-Natal hotel group, ANEW Hotels and Resorts.
ANEW, which already has the Hilton Hotel, Hluhluwe Hotel, Hluhluwe Lodge and Ingeli Forest Lodge, has partnered with the Fortis brand and has concluded an agreement to acquire an additional six properties, bringing the ANEW stable to 10 hotels and resorts countrywide.
“The past few months have been extremely challenging as far as trading goes but we’re encouraged by the glimmers of hope we have for the ANEW brand moving forward,” said Clinton Armour, its CEO.
Over the past two years, they have been actively looking for additional properties to expand the footprint and they were determined to find the right properties and partners in order to grow the brand effectively and sustainably.
“The Fortis culture is very similar to that of ANEW and the synergies of culture, people and technology, made the team-up a natural fit,” added Armour. The ANEW group, which prides itself with its deep-rooted family style approach with staff and guests, not compromising on the little things, was birthed out of deep family rooted business which originated in 1952.
With humble beginnings and starting with a timber treatment plant in the small town of Harding, KwaZulu-Natal, the family business grew and expanded by purchasing farmland and increasing the treatment plants capacities to become the largest suppliers of treated wooden poles in the southern hemisphere.
Having restructured the core family businesses, the group has diversified from timber farming to various agricultural businesses and hotels in and around the KwaZulu-Natal province. The six additional hotels that will be managed by ANEW are Hunters Rest in Rustenburg, Highveld and Witbank Hotels in Emalahleni, the Capital and Manor Hatfield Hotels in Pretoria and Malaga Hotel in Sycamore.
The MEC for economic development, tourism and environmental affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube extended congratulations to ANEW on the new hotel acquisitions and said the group was born from an entrepreneurial spirit and deep understanding of the customer’s needs.
“The optimism displayed by ANEW relates to a clear understanding of the hospitality sector and adoption of a longer-term investment outlook. This bodes very well for the travel and tourism sector. Despite pressured economic environments and tough decisions, many hotel operators have been able to successfully conclude and sign deals with owners during the lockdown period. This can only nurture hope and confidence there will be better times ahead and the travel market will eventually emerge stronger and more resilient,” said MEC Dube-Ncube, adding that the future winners will be those that build a future based on a strong risk mitigation approach and display flexibility and innovation.
She further congratulated the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban on being nominated for the prestigious World Tourism Award.
As seen on Rising Sun Chatsworth: https://risingsunchatsworth.co.za/161494/kzn-hotel-group-expands-portfolio-from-four-to-ten/
