New international luxury brand coming to South Africa

·13 Aug 2025

International luxury brand, OKU Hotels, is coming to South Africa after purchasing the rundown Ritz Hotel in Seapoint, Cape Town.

The luxury hotel chain has locations in Borum, Turkey; Kos, Greece; and Ibiza and Andalusia, Spain.

OKU describes itself as a boutique collection of soulfully curated, laidback luxury hotels, created for the modern traveller.

The term OKU is derived from the Japanese spiritual and architectural concept of “inner space”.

The hotels offer a blend of local and international culture, food and drink. The properties have luxurious pools and daily yoga classes.

After purchasing the Ritz Hotel, the primarily Mediterranean-focused chain will soon come to Africa.

The iconic hotel dates back to 1972. It has 21 storeys and features a revolving restaurant on top that resembles a UFO with a shiny steel circular design.

Despite being highly popular amongst South Africa’s luxury seekers, the hotel shut its doors in early 2015.

A new company, backed by a restaurateur and a model, then took over and pumped R120 million into the hotel in a refurbishment.

Following a soft launch in 2018, the hotel could not get the jumpstart it needed, and the new owners soon vacated the property.

The Covid-19 pandemic led to the property being hijacked by illegal occupiers, with drug dealers and sex workers operating in the rooms.

The building entered into a state of disrepair. However, new owners got the illegal occupiers out of the building in 2022 and have been waiting for a sale.

Although many South African developers were keen on the hotel, as the community loved it, there were many concerns over how it could attract crime due to being vacant for so long.

However, there is a new era for the rundown hotel after it was announced earlier this year that OKU Hotels will add the hotel to its stable following a deal worth around R240 million.

The hotel will also be renovated and not demolished despite its dire state. Given its issues, a grand opening should not be expected soon.

Not the only one

OKU Hotels is not the only major international hotel to expand its operations into South Africa.

Earlier this year, the Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the opening of the Park Hyatt Johannesburg in Rosebank.

The Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels is partnering with local private equity firm, the Millat Group, to open the location.

Park Hyatt is part of Hyatt Hotels’ upscale offering and sits at the top of its food chain. With only 31 rooms, the new hotel is one of the smallest offerings for the American group.

The location was initially constructed in the 1930s as a stately colonial mansion and reflects the influence of Sir Herbert Baker, who designed many of the city’s early estates.

The new owners carefully restored original features such as “graceful” arches, high ceilings, and wide verandahs.

Last year, the hotel chain Hyde also opened a location in Rosebank, Johannesburg.

The new hotel will be based in Rosebank, featuring 131 guest rooms and a spacious gym. Proud Mary Restaurant operates on the ground floor, while Workshop17 is also based in the building.