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Johannesburg - The flagship property of IFA Hotels & Resorts, the five-star Fairmont Zimbali hotel and resort at Zimbali on the northern coast of KwaZulu-Natal, has been completed in the nick of time before the arrival of the international guests for the2010 FIFA World Cup.
The R1.7bn development was officially opened on Monday and handed over to the designated operator, the international Fairmont hotel group.
It has been 90% booked up for the tournament.
The opening comes five months later than planned. Various obstacles delayed the development during construction. They included a dispute with Liviero Building, the main contractor, following which IFA cancelled HR Liviero’s contract.
Wessel Witthuhn, IFA HR’s president for Africa and the Indian Ocean region, said the development was completed after all the subcontractors were re-employed.
Occupancies for the resort, with its more than 300 rooms and suites, look good for July and August. For September and October occupancy is currently at 60%, he said.
Tariffs start at R1 499 a night.
Talal Jassim Al-Bahar, AFA HR’s deputy chairperson and MD, said the opening of this hotel and resort shows IFA HR’s commitment to tourism and economic development in KwaZulu-Natal.
Witthuhn says the hotel and resort will automatically integrate South Africa with other top hotels worldwide, in keeping with IFA HR’s long-term vision for tourism in South Africa.
- Sake24.com
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