Sun Park to boost MICE business
SUN City’s R1bn
refurbishment includes
the building of Sun
Park, a new product aimed
at the MICE market. It
includes an indoor events
venue and outdoor space,
and will be launched
across a number of Sun
International properties. Sun
Park will have a maximum
capacity of 2 000
people cinema style or
1 000 schoolroom style.
Existing conference facilities
in the Entertainment
Centre, currently closed
for refurbishment, will
benefit from overhauled
back- and front-of-house
areas. The lower level will
accommodate all food
and beverage, retail and
entertainment areas, with
the upper level identified
as convention space with
limited food and beverage
facilities. The revamp
includes the replacement
of lifts and escalators and
new units where required.
The kitchen facilities on
both levels will receive a
full upgrade to provide for
the increased space and
required services. The
Entertainment Centre will
reopen in November, with
normal conference business
currently accommodated at
the specially created Sun
Sky Village.
Limpopo camp to implement levy
GARONGA Safari Camp in
the Makalali Conservancy in
Limpopo, west of the Kruger
National Park, will implement a
compulsory daily conservancy
levy of R160 per person from
June 1. Bernardo Smith,
owner of Garonga Lodge,
said it was the only property
in the conservancy that
was implementing the levy.
Garonga Safari Camp said in
a statement that the levy was
being imposed to help fund
additional security costs for
rhino protection and would be
charged to all guests, whether
bookings occurred before
or after the announcement
of the implementation of
the levy. Craig van Rooyen,
director at Tour d’Afrique, said
the company had no issues
with conservation levies and
was informing all agents and
clients accordingly. However
he added that only adults
should pay the levy and not
children as the levy would
affect family travel. “The
Sabi Sand was the first to
initiate the levy and it seems
that many reserves are now
following suit and, although
some lodges still say it’s a
voluntary contribution, I see
it becoming a permanent
charge for 2017. Ideally, tour
operators would prefer to have
the charge included in the STO
rates as this would make it
simpler to load and distribute
rates and information to our
clients,” he said.
OR Tambo hotel gets new
look and management
HOLIDAY Inn Johannesburg
Airport has refurbished
guest rooms, restaurant,
public areas and lounges
as well as the gym.
This is part of a R30m
revamp and rebranding
exercise. The 151-room
hotel was previously called
the Airport Grand Hotel,
part of the Legacy Group.
A date for the
conference centre upgrade
has not yet been finalised.
It will be closed during the
work and management
confirms that it will advise
of the date and that
disruption will be kept to a
minimum.
The property is a
10-minute drive from
OR Tambo International
Airport and has easy
access to business hubs
in Johannesburg, Sandton
and Pretoria, as well as
the Gautrain.
Renovated rooms feature
separate shower and
bath, hairdryer, flat-screen
television with DStv,
digital safe, iron and
ironing board.
