5-star international hotel brand coming to South Africa

The luxury hotel brand Park Hyatt will start operating in South Africa in November.

The new 31-key luxury property will be based in Rosebank, Johannesburg, and is set to be the smallest Park Hyatt in the world.

Private Equity firm, the Millat Group, will operate the property, which it said will redefine ultra-luxury hospitality in Johannesburg.

“At Millat, we believe in the potential of South Africa as a premier travel destination,” said Hamza Farooqui, CEO of Millat Group.

“We are delighted to welcome the Park Hyatt Johannesburg to the Millat property portfolio in the country soon, which includes a Hyatt Regency in Cape Town and two Hyatt House properties in Sandton and Rosebank.”

“With the opening of Park Hyatt Johannesburg, we are committed to showcasing the richness of our culture and the warmth of our hospitality.”

Park Hyatt forms part of Hyatt’s upscale hotels and sits at the top of the Hyatt food chain.

Stephen Ansell, Managing Director, Hyatt, Middle East and Africa, said that the group is excited to launch the third Park Hyatt branded hotel in Africa.

“With 31 rooms, the hotel is set to offer guests an unparalleled, personalized experience that combines modern comforts with timeless sophistication,” said Ansell.

Millat said that the hotel’s architecture is a contemporary interpretation of the elegant colonial homes of the past and centres around a Jacaranda tree.

The hotel’s 31 uniquely styled rooms feature 26 King Bedrooms, two Junior Suites with garden views, one Wellness Suite, one Winston Suite, and one Rosebank Suite.

The rooms will have keyless entry, Egyptian cotton linens, pillow and bath menus, spa-like bathrooms, his and hers granite top basins, and private lounge areas.

The hotel is also set to offer an “extraordinary culinary journey” with three types of fire cooking: barbecue grill, slow oven, and high oven. Guests can also watch the chef’s work.

Park Hyatt Johannesburg is set to cater to business and leisure travellers.

International brands coming to South Africa

Park Hyatt is not the only hotel brand to come to Rosebank; hotel chain Hyde will also launch in the area in September 2024.

Hyde has 131 guest rooms and a spacious gym, based above the famous Proud Mary Restaurant.

Looking beyond hotels, Millat is also bringing the popular British coffee chain Pret a Manger to South Africa.

Millat signed an exclusive licence to operate Pret stores in Southern Africa, and it is set to offer customers easy access to organic and sustainable food.

The first store is set to launch in Johannesburg, and more stores will open in Cape Town, Durban, and Pretoria.

Staying in retail, the Foschini Group (TFG) will also bring popular UK-based JD Sports to South Africa this year.

The sports retailers sell its private labels, including Pink Soda and Supply & Demand, alongside Nike, Adidas and Puma.

TFG hopes to open 40 JD stores in South Africa over the next five years.

In the travel space, Norwegian airline Norse Atlantic Airways will start offering a route that connects London Gatwick Airport with Cape Town International Airport.

The new route from Norse Atlantic will take off on Tuesday, 28 October 2024.

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