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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.
