The luxurious R450 million Fairmont Zimbali Hotel and Resort on the North Coast finally officially opened its doors yesterday, just over a week before the World Cup.
The 156-room hotel and beach resort was opened by Justice Minister Jeff Radebe and Talal Jassim Al-Bahar, vice-chairman and managing director of Kuwait-based IFA Hotels and Resorts, the foreign investors and developers behind the project.
Al-Bahar said that opening the hotel represented IFA's long-term commitment to tourism and economic development in KwaZulu-Natal. "Since the inception phases and a committed investment of R1.7 billion, Fairmont Zimbali Resort has achieved phenomenal success as a premium mixed-use resort in South Africa," he said.
Radebe said Fairmont Zimbali represented one of the biggest foreign direct investments in South African tourism and urged IFA to consider further investment in the country. He said opening the hotel bolstered South Africa's status as one of the top tourism destinations in the world.
"This is more than a five-star facility; it is an ultra luxurious seven-star hotel resort that will help put KwaZulu-Natal on the global tourism map. It represents not only a major foreign direct investment in tourism, but an investment of international skills into the hotel industry with the involvement of the globally renowned Fairmont brand.
"The development augurs well for the South African tourism industry, ensuring that tourism is not on the periphery but a crucial driver of economic growth in the country.
"The opening comes at an opportune time, with just 10 days to go to the World Cup," he said.
Radebe added that he was confident that the new hotel would be fully booked for the tournament.
Wessel Witthuhn, of IFA, said despite the "obstacles encountered during the building and construction phases", he was happy that the company had met its goal of completing the project before the World Cup. This was a reference to a payment spat with the development's original main contractor, Liviero Building, which stalled construction on the project last year.
"The great thing is... we are full during all the peak World Cup days in Durban and we have an average occupancy of 80 percent over the June/July period," said Witthuhn.