Major facelift for Sandon hotel as it changes ownership

Minor Hotels, an international hotel owner, operator and investor with more than 540 hotels in 56 countries has signed with The Cavaleros Group to manage a hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Cavaleros Group is one of the largest privately-owned property groups in South Africa, with its core business being the investment and development of data centres, commercial, industrial, hospitality and retail properties, both locally and internationally

It operates two sites in Sandton, the Maslow Hotel and the Hilton Hotel Sandton, which will cease to operate as a Hilton hotel at the end of June 2024.

The signing represents the debut of Minor Hotels’ NH Collection brand on the African continent.

From July 2024 the group will manage the hotel in the financial district of South Africa’s largest city.

The 329-key property will first operate as NH Sandton and subsequently, following an extensive refurbishment of the property, will be rebranded as NH Collection Sandton.

NH Sandton will offer a selection of guest room categories including lead-in rooms, suites, one-bedroom suites and the 145 square metre Royal Suite.

Facilities at the property will include two restaurants and two bars, an executive lounge, conference facilities, in addition to a gym and large outdoor swimming pool.

Minor Hotels and The Cavaleros Group plan to partner together on future hospitality opportunities throughout the African continent.

Penny Cavaleros, CEO of The Cavaleros Group, said: “We, as a Group, identified certain asset classes within the property sector which we will aggressively pursue, hospitality being one with exponential growth into the African continent.

"Over the past three years we have engaged with all international hotel groups and concluded and recognised that Minor Hotels’ history, speed and culture is synonymous with our core Group values. We are currently considering several hospitality opportunities across the continent and have commenced our due diligence process.”

Minor Hotels currently operates 27 hotels and resorts in eight countries in Africa, across its Anantara, Avani and Elewana Collection brands, with a further pipeline of future properties.