The management of the hospitality icon of tourism in Cape Town, the Belmond Mount Nelson, has sent staff a letter telling them it will remain closed until at least December, and warning them of retrenchment of two-thirds of their number, currently 251 employees, according to Business Insider South Africa.
The Mount Nelson relies heavily on foreign tourism, which is presently impossible with borders closed.
On enquiring, Travel News received a response from a Belmond spokesperson saying: “Belmond Mount Nelson temporarily closed its doors in March to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus and protect the communities it serves. We look forward to confirming the date for the reopening of Belmond Mount Nelson in due course and to welcoming back our loyal guests as soon as it is safe, legal and economically viable for us to do so.”
The original hotel was built in 1899 on a piece of land named after Admiral Lord Nelson. The history of the hotel includes visits by Lord Kitchener, Winston Churchill, Agatha Christie, Marlene Dietrich, Liberace, David Bowie, Margaret Thatcher, Nelson and Winnie Mandela, Prince Andrew and reputedly John Lennon (anonymously).
