Despite Travel & Leisure magazine calling it the Best Hotel in Johannesburg and a range of value-adds - like free chauffer rides within 10km of the hotel and superb butler service that made it very competitive in the five-star market - its operators couldn't satisfy its owners Hyprop Investments.
I considered The Grace, Rosebank among the finest hotels that I have visited in the world and while I'm pleased the brand will remain, I hope that Southern Sun will be able to offer the same home-from-home experience.
"The property and buildings that have been acquired include the Grace Hotel, situated in the Rosebank node, which has good growth potential and where Southern Sun is not presently represented. This acquisition is consistent with our business philosophy - to own and operate our own hotels," says Graham Wood, MD, Southern Sun Hotels. "We are excited to add another boutique deluxe hotel to our portfolio and we intend to rebrand and re-launch the 73-room five-star boutique hotel in the first quarter of 2012," concludes Wood.
Southern Sun's Hotel portfolio consists of 94 hotels throughout Africa, the Middle East and the Seychelles. Southern Sun's strength lies in its distribution and in their brands, each able to offer a differentiated guest experience, for both business and leisure travellers. As a trusted brand that offers real guest satisfaction and intuitive service, Southern Sun remains loyal to the South African, Middle East and African hospitality industry.
This acquisition remains conditional on Competition Commission approval.
The Grace Hotel was renamed to 54 On Bath in 2012
