World Cup Baptism of Fire for Protea Hotel Hatfield

1 July 2010, The brand new Protea Hotel Hatfield opened its doors as the World Cup started and it’s been an exciting ride, according to general manager Etienne Potgieter. Without the benefit of the usual “ease in” period that most hotels have when they open for business, this hotel within walking distance of Fifa’s Loftus Versveld Stadium had to get everything right from the outset.

“We were extremely busy from the word go,” said Potgieter. “Most hotels around here were fully booked at match times, so we caught a lot of the overflow. Besides that, we’re literally right next door to a Fan Park, so every department in the hotel had to hit the ground running.” Potgieter said the World Cup tested all the systems in the hotel, from the brand new building to the new staff. “The staff got to put into practice what they’d learnt and the teething time was therefore a lot shorter. This shows in the guest feedback. Protea Hotels operates a ‘hot or not’ guest feedback system and we’ve made a point of asking our guests to participate. The overall response has been very positive, from the modern look and feel of the hotel to the levels of service. All in all I’m extremely satisfied,” Potgieter said.

The hotel comprises of 120 contemporary designed rooms, offering en-suite bathrooms with showers, air-conditioning, LCD Televisions, direct dial telephones, Wi-Fi connectivity and secure digital laptop safes. The hotel is situated within walking distance to restaurants, entertainment, shopping centre, fitness club, The University of Pretoria, Loftus Versveld, bus routes, 24-hour medical centre and the soon to Open Hatfield Gautrain Station. The hotel’s location also provides easy access to all major roads and highways.
Danny Bryer, Group Sales and Marketing Director for the Protea Hospitality Group, said he was gratified by how well the hotel had been received. “It’s in the right location – close to government, sport and convention centres, as well as Hatfield being the lifestyle and entertainment hub of Pretoria. The staff have also lived up to the high service standards Protea Hotels and their guests expect from them.” Bryer said he was convinced the World Cup was only the start of good things to come for Protea Hotel Hatfield.

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