The Pezula Group has signed a management contract with Southern Sun Hotels — the largest hotel group in the southern hemisphere — for the multimillion-rand luxury Pezula Resort hotel, situated in the heart of the Garden Route. An all-suite deluxe boutique hotel, it will be the flagship of the newly launched Southern Sun Collection.
Situated on the Pezula Championship Course on Knysna’s Eastern Head, its vistas overlook Knysna lagoon and the Indian Ocean, with the Outeniqua mountains as a backdrop.
Comprising 80 suites and a presidential unit, the Pezula Resort hotel will offer rooms with luxurious en-suite bathrooms, a world-class health spa, a gourmet restaurant, an indoor pool, a well-equipped conference facility and business centre and the world-class Pezula Championship Course.
Future amenities include an equestrian centre, a tennis academy, a beach club, boating facilities, squash courts, boutiques and other specialist shops.
Pezula chairperson and visionary Keith Stewart describes the complex as “a perfect harmony between unspoiled environment and property development”.
Southern Sun Hotels is owned by Tsogo Sun Holdings, South Africa’s largest black empowerment hotel and gaming group. Shareholding is split between Tsogo Sun Investments (51%) and SABMiller (49%).
Southern Sun Hotels is ranked among the top 50 in the world in terms of size and it operates more than 80 hotels, with more than 13 000 rooms. Properties include the Southern Sun Deluxe Collection, the five-star Southern Sun InterContinental hotels, Southern Sun Hotels and Resorts and a variety of Holiday Inn brands, as well as the budget Formula 1 hotels.
The neighbouring Pezula Private Estate has already attracted some of the world’s leading sports and business personalities, including professional golfer Nick Price and tennis stars Roger Federer, Jonas Bjorkman and Thomas Johansson, all Grand Slam winners.
Both the golf course and the hotel will be showcased internationally during the Acer Women’s World Cup of Golf at Pezula, scheduled for 2005, 2006 and 2007. The expected television audience will exceed 250-million households.
Zimbabwe-born Stewart says he was, at first sight, “overwhelmed by Pezula’s natural beauty”. His vision was to create a perfect lifestyle while ensuring a blend between the existing environment and luxury living.
“Pezula is, and will always remain, in harmony with nature.”
With a home at Pezula, Stewart is convinced the site is the most beautiful in the world. “We must cohabit with the natural world, protect and enhance the environment and set a benchmark for development excellence.”
Southern Sun has recognised a growing world awareness of wellness. There is a desire to combine business, holiday and health and exercise opportunities. The Southern Sun Collection joins a worldwide trend toward more distinctive hotel experiences.
“Tourists demand and deserve ultimate accommodation and Southern Sun Collection’s exclusive portfolio of superb luxury hotels fulfils the discerning traveller’s every whim,” says group MD Helder Perreira.
“The Southern Sun Collection hotels are the epitome of luxury and style. Each one is a destination in its own right — offering an intriguingly different and distinctive experience with a celebration of uncompromising elegance and style.
“Focus is on highly personalised service, impeccable attention to detail and the delivery of a truly memorable stay, their individuality underpinned by quality endorsed by the brand.
“The collection will strongly appeal to a growing market seeking such facilities. Southern Sun is delighted to be part of this exciting product. The facility offers something unique and promises to benchmark the wellness experience in this country.”