Hyatt Announces Hyatt Regency Cape Town

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Hyatt just made an exciting announcement but putting the puzzle pieces together takes a bit of work…

HYATT REGENCY CAPE TOWN

This morning Hyatt announced plans to enter the Cape Town market for the first time with a Hyatt Regency.

The hotel chain says that it is “set to open in December 2020 and marks a significant milestone in Hyatt’s growth in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

WAIT…DECEMBER 2020!?

I have searched hotels in Cape Town thousands of times and aside from a few Marriotts, there are very few western-branded hotels in the city.

And generally, hotel developments are announced before ground is even broken and often take years to finalize. Recognizing the opening is 2 months away – which is an impossible timeline for a new hotel – only means the hotel chain is taking over an existing property.

Interestingly, when I searched Hyatt’s website in December (and beyond), there were no hotels available to view.

Typically, Hyatt will at least include a thumbnail photo with a caption that says “coming soon.”

THE PUZZLE PIECES

The press release said the following:

Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with South African real estate company, Millat Properties, to open the first Hyatt hotel in Cape Town. Hyatt Regency Cape Town, a 137-room hotel, is expected to open in December 2020, bringing the total number of Hyatt hotels across Africa to eight, with two in South Africa. The new Hyatt Regency Cape Town will be rebranded from the former Hilton Cape Town City Centre.

Africa, and particularly Sub-Saharan Africa, remains a key focus for growth for Hyatt as the continent is experiencing an increasingly favorable business climate, along with consistently heightened tourism.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, international tourist arrivals in Sub-Saharan Africa grew around 6% per year, higher than the global average.

Hyatt Regency Cape Town will bring the Hyatt Regency brand’s signature seamless, personalized service and energizing experiences to business and leisure guests alike. The hotel is situated at the foot of the iconic Table Mountain, one of Cape Town’s most prominent and famous tourist landmarks, bordering the historic Bo-Kaap district with its steep and narrow streets. The vibrant and colorful neighborhood is a popular area for tourists looking to experience South Africa’s rich, multicultural history.

Well, Hilton dissolved it’s stake in the Cape Town market a few weeks ago when it turned over the keys to it’s 137 room Hilton Hotel, so it looks like this is the property that Hyatt will be taking over.

Here are some of the photos included in the press release:

FINAL STAMP

Hyatt has made a significant significant expansion into Sub-Saharan Africa, fueled by the Hyatt Regency brand. For example, three Hyatt Regency hotels are already open in the sub-Saharan region: Hyatt Regency Johannesburg, Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam and Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa with the Hyatt Regency Nairobi, Kenya and Hyatt Regency Lagos Ikeja, Nigeria scheduled to open over the next three years.

Personally, two months still seems like an audacious timeline but I can’t wait to see what this hotel offers.

I am planning a trip to South Africa so this hotel will definitely be on the list of reviews.

What do you make of this development? Do you have a favorite hotel in Cape Town?