Hotel lauded for employing youth

SAID by industry to be Africa’s tallest hotel in the heart of the city, Hotel Sky has been applauded by the government for employing many people who have never worked before.

The 145.5m tall hotel, with 28 storeys, was officially opened yesterday in a grand launch by Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, joined by the head of Infrastructure and Investment in the presidency, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.

Hotel Sky general manager Mercia Horn said it was important for them to open their doors and create job opportunities.

“During its construction the hotel employed 800 people. In the next six months we are hoping to have a workforce of about 200 people. Myself coming from the Cape Flats, I have passion for space and people,” said Horn.

Kubayi-Ngubane said the hotel infrastructure investment was an important contribution to the strengthening of the supply side of the tourism market.

“More broadly, the country’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan is anchored on infrastructure investment and development. Covid has had a huge negative impact on the tourism sector. A lot of businesses closed and jobs lost over time. We have been working to try to get the recovery of the sector back on track,” she said.

Kubayi-Ngubane said although they saw green shoots during the Easter weekend where domestic travels and market reignited, there were still many areas that were affected, especially urban areas.