Page 19 - Valor Africa Overview

ONE&ONLY

Located in the V&A Waterfront Cape Town, One&Only Cape Town was

hotel magnate Sol Kerzner’s much anticipated and vaunted return to his

home country after a 14-year absence.

After a very challenging development and construction period, lasting

nearly 7 years, the hotel opened in April 2009. The leadership was

largely international and they quickly determined they required a locally

based, highly experienced person to join the team. Tony Romer-Lee was

approached and started one month after opening, working initially with

the incumbent GM and after 2 months as the GM. His main areas of

focus were: to repair an already damaged reputation with local trade and

media; to oversee the ‘fixing up’ of the property after a premature and

rushed opening; turning around the staff morale and service; reducing

the expat senior management contingent from 12 to 2; delivering a

successful strategy for the FIFA 2010 World Cup. After one year under

Tony’s leadership, the hotel was achieving the highest RevPAR in Cape

Town.