First Hilton Garden Inn for Umhlanga Arch
UMHLANGA will add another feather to its cap, with the development of the country’s first Hilton Garden Inn at Umhlanga Arch.
The renowned international hotel chain will open its first Garden Inn hotel in 2020 at the mixed-use Umhlanga Arch development along Umhlanga’s Ridgeside.
“We always intended to have a hotel element included in our development offering and are extremely thrilled to have partnered with such a heavyweight, international hotel brand like Hilton Hotel,” said Chris du Toit, developer representative of Umhlanga Arch.
“We believe the Hilton Garden Inn is the perfect fit for the Umhlanga Arch brand as not only do they succeed in customer experience, but through our research we have discovered a real need for a hotel of this stature that provides business travellers a place where they have luxury, comfort and easy access to the airport, economic hub of Umhlanga and major highways.”
There will be a business centre, fitness hub, outdoor pool and various food and beverage outlets, including a garden and lounge bar.
“Umhlanga is a terrific location in which to launch Hilton Garden Inn in South Africa. A popular upmarket commercial and leisure destination, Umhlanga is one of South Africa’s fastest-growing economic areas.
“The relocation of nearby King Shaka International Airport in 2010 and a significant boost in office space is driving considerable growth in corporate traffic, creating demand for what will be our first Hilton Garden Inn in South Africa,” said Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice-president of development at Hilton.
The Arch’s architecture includes an iconic sea-facing arch, with smart apartments, double volume lofts, AAAgrade office spaces, with a concierge lifestyle.
Peter Rose of Umhlanga Tourism said the signing of the new hotel was indicative of investor confidence in Umhlanga, and eThekwini as a whole.
“Anybody who is confident in the future of Umhlanga is welcome here, especially if it positively impacts on the tourism sector. It will certainly add capacity to the area,” he said.
However, Rose said that should the hotel be of a four or five star rating, there may be competition in the market, considering several other established and planned hotels in the area of a similar grading.
“If the hotel plans on offering a three-star service, then I see it doing well, as people are looking for a holiday but in these tough economic times can only spend a certain amount on accommodation.
“Many people who may have stayed at a four-star place previously are now looking at staying at a three-star place,” he said.