Daily Dispatch

Guests rate Kowie hotel among SA’s top five on leading website

- By DAVID MACGREGOR

A R120-million makeover of a rundown Port Alfred hotel that was once used by the British royal family has catapulted it into the top five in South Africa among guests.

The transforma­tion of the Royal St Andrews Hotel from a derelict shell into quarters fit for a king has been recognised by the prestigiou­s TripAdviso­r – 15 months after it reopened.

The hotel was recently ranked fourth in the country and 22nd on the continent in the 2017 Travellers Choice by TripAdviso­r users.

Owners Martin and Linda Bekker yesterday said the historic building was a wreck when they first bought it.

The original plan was to spend R14-million on the makeover, but the couple have already sunk R117-million into the project so far. “It was like getting onto a runaway train without brakes,” she said.

Their vision to improve the old hotel was what kept them going during the costly renovation­s, she explained.

“It has been a huge challenge and a great adventure. The hotel was in cinders when we got it and it was structural­ly compromise­d.”

Martin Bekker is proud that guests had rated St Andrews number four on TripAdviso­r, and said they wanted to maintain their position.

Although R117-million has been spent on the upgrade, the work is not done yet and the couple say they will spend another R13-million before it is done.

General manager Wessel Benson, who has been in the hospitalit­y game for over 30 years, said the historic part of the hotel had been merged with new buildings of stainless steel, concrete and wood using the latest energy-saving technology. He said the turnaround in the fortunes of the hotel had been “absolutely amazing”.

“We hope this rating exposes Port Alfred on a bigger scale.”

He said the TripAdviso­r ratings were based on the feedback of guests.

The organisati­on has 60 million members and over 170 million reviews and opinions on hotels worldwide, he added.

Sunshine Coast Tourism head Sandy Birch yesterday said the incredible rise of the Royal St Andrews to a top hotel according to guests was fantastic for the region.

Built in 1924, the hotel received brief exposure worldwide a year later when the Prince of Wales and his entourage visited the resort town.

 ?? Picture: DAVID MACGREGOR ?? CHEERS: Royal St Andrews owners Linda and Martin Bekker have spent over R117-million – so far – turning the derelict Port Alfred hotel into one of the best in the country, according to guest reviews
Picture: DAVID MACGREGOR CHEERS: Royal St Andrews owners Linda and Martin Bekker have spent over R117-million – so far – turning the derelict Port Alfred hotel into one of the best in the country, according to guest reviews

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