GEORGE NEWS - The Wilderness Hotel will be undergoing upgrades and refurbishments after the new management, Anew Hotels and Resorts, takes over on 1 October.
George Herald recently reported that an agreement has been struck between the owners of the iconic property and Anew.
In a statement this month, the hotel group said it would operate the property under a lease agreement, with refurbishments planned ahead of October to upgrade all public areas and facilities in line with its standards.
Anew's CEO, Clinton Armour, says Anew Resort Wilderness, as it has been dubbed, is the group's second property in the Western Cape and now forms part of a total of 19 properties in the group around the country.
"The Wilderness Hotel holds a special place in the history of South African tourism, and we are excited to play a role in its next chapter.
"We are proud to welcome this renowned property to the Anew Hotels & Resorts group. Long-standing guests can now enjoy this quality resort, along with our famed Anew hospitality. The hotel offers 150 rooms and a rich history as one of the region's oldest hospitality landmarks."
The property began as a boarding house in the early 1900s and was upgraded to The Wilderness Hostel in 1924, gaining a strong reputation through the 1930s to 1950s. In the late 1930s, it hosted meetings that would later form what is now South African Tourism.
Over the years since, the hotel has been managed by various hospitality groups and welcomed many notable guests. During the British royal family's 1947 visit to South Africa, the beautiful Wilderness area was a stopover point for Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth the 2nd) and her family as part of their national tour.
Armour said Wilderness is a valuable addition to their portfolio as it provides a convenient midway stop for local and international travellers journeying through South Africa from KwaZulu-Natal to Cape Town. "In addition, the area's natural appeal, along with its proximity to the Garden Route National Park, lagoons and scenic landscape, makes it a fitting inclusion to the Anew brand."
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