The new Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba, has called for the revitalisation of some of the city’s ‘old jewels’, including the once-iconic Carlton Hotel in the heart of the CBD.
The Mayor made the appeal at the announcement by Marriott International on Thursday of its new South African hotel developments.
Downtown Johannesburg has recently seen the rejuvenation of a number of inner-city locations, based on mixed commercial/residential-use principles with tourism elements, attracting more people into the city.
The 30-floor Carlton Hotel in Commissioner St was once a city glamour spot that opened in 1972 as part of the Carlton Centre shopping and office complex. Over its 25-year history it hosted world leaders and celebrities from Henry Kissinger to Mick Jagger. Its flagship restaurant, The Three Ships, was a premier dining location for many years. In 1982 an ultra-luxurious annexe, the Carlton Court, was opened, connected to the original building by sky bridge. The hotel closed in 1998 as business decentralised and moved north of the CBD.
Anglo American sold the complex to Transnet in 1999 for R33m, a fraction of its construction cost. The shopping centre and office tower remain in use, with the observation deck on the 50th floor of the latter continuing to attract tourists for is panoramic views of Johannesburg. But, besides limited use as a venue for product launches and movie shoots (such as District 9) over the years, the hotel sits empty.
