Boutique hotel opens in Pretoria

FOLLOWING an unfortunate fire last year, in which the 24-room, three-star Kievits Kroon Country Lodge burnt down, extensive construction has resulted in a much larger hotel, offering a five-star service. Now known as the Kievits Kroon Country Estate, the newly-opened upmarket hotel just north of Pretoria, Gauteng, is jointly owned by two foreign investors from Belgium and Holland respectively, Ton ver Agten and Chris van der Weide. The hotel offers conference facilities for up to 120 delegates. There are four large boardrooms, eight breakaway rooms and two lobbies. A banqueting hall and chapel, silver service dining, an informal bistro and terrace, private wine cellar and cigar lounge are some of the additional facilities found at the hotel. A separate, 24-hour business centre offers faxing, copying, Internet and e-mail facilities as well as a number of secretarial services, including typing. The Wellness Centre facilities are available to all guests and offers health and skin care services, a gymnasium and a heated swimming pool. A limousine service can be arranged on request. (Adéle Mackenzie)