REFURBISHMENT OF DURBAN'S ICONIC HOTEL COMPLETE

The venerable lady of Durban’s Golden Mile, the Protea Hotel Edward, is more gorgeous and stylish than ever after a months’ long refurbishment inside and out.

All of the 101 bedrooms have been redecorated in a style sympathetic to the overall elegance of the hotel. Cool and calming colours in rich, sumptuous fabrics adorn graceful furnishings, but a nod to the modern era means rooms are equipped with LCD TVs, new electronic door locks, comfortable executive work stations and safes. All corridor carpeting has been replaced and graphics and wall finishes upgraded.

The public areas of the hotel have also been given a graceful facelift, including the hotel’s restaurant and extensive conference and function facilities. The largest room accommodates 200 delegates cinema-style but is also an elegant venue for a gala dinners, awards evenings, cocktail parties and wedding receptions. The exterior of the building has been completely renovated to ensure that the art deco façade is the most impressive on Durban’s beachfront. All exterior signage has been upgraded and improved with additional signage in place facing the city.

Interior designer Sarah McVicar of Sarah M3 Design said the decor plan for the hotel was to give it a crisp, refreshing face-lift whilst still retaining the quiet traditional presence of the Protea Hotel Edward. “The existing classical furniture in the bedrooms was restored. Colours were drawn from the lush flora of Kwa Zulu Natal and the ever-changing hues of the Indian Ocean outside, to create a cool and tranquil retreat from the heat of the day in Durban. A mixture of deep greens, crystal blues, antique silvers and velvety charcoals, the fabrics and finishes are rich and opulent, with sumptuous textures that re-capture the historical elegance of the hotel.”

Situated within five minutes of the city centre, the Protea Hotel Edward harks back to a time of Victorian elegance. This world–famous hotel has played host to princes and presidents, field marshals, millionaires and movie stars since 1911. The hotel is a graceful and comfortable springboard from which to explore the breathtaking beaches, rich Zulu culture and game reserves of KwaZulu Natal.

Andrew Rogers, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for hotel owner the Hospitality Property Fund (HPF) said the hotel’s upgrade was part of a broader refurbishment of existing stock owned by HPF and managed and marketed by Protea Hotels.

Danny Bryer, Director of Sales, Marketing and Revenue for the Protea Hospitality Group, commented: “We have superb and varied properties in the Protea Hospitality Group and we always strive to deliver more than GUESTS expect. The ongoing reinvestment in hotels within the portfolio is indicative of the faith we and our respective hotel owners have in the health and growth potential of the hospitality industry in South Africa. With this refurbishment, and the quality of work completed, the Protea Hotel Edward has certainly regained its status as the finest hotel along the Golden Mile.