Page 21 - Valor Africa Overview

TAJ CAPE TOWN

Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces began construction of a new 176 room luxury Hotel within central

Cape Town in late 2007 and recruited Michael from Sandy Lane to return to head up the

development, he relocated with his family in late 2008. The role was to ensure it was built to the

highest of international luxury standards, on-time and within budget. The building is a combination

of old Heritage buildings with the addition of a modern glass Tower, a complex and delicate

construction posing very many design and layout challenges to overcome. Opened in March 2010

and within its first year of operations had gained several international awards (Condé Nast

Traveller Gold List, Daily Telegraph Hot List) and much recognition from the local and international

travel industry. It was accepted into both Leading Hotels of the World, and the worlds top luxury

travel consortium - Virtuoso.

In 2013 negotiated for a long lease on an adjoining Heritage building, the ABC Bank, in order to

create expanded Banqueting and events venues to further grow the Hotels capacity and revenues,

this was named ‘The Reserve’, and features a grand old Banking Hall, as well as a renovated

previous Bank Vault, complete with old Safes and Deposit Boxes. The Hotel has been most

successful in not just establishing itself as the luxury Hotel of choice within the CBD, but also in

strongly assisting the promoting and driving interest in the re-emergence of the central city area,

which previously had been unappealing and secondary to the V&A Waterfront.