Hôtel Le Vendôme, a four-star Cape hotel, is under new ownership and management. The 11-year-old Sea Point-based hotel was purchased in August 2008 by the United Arab Emirates-based Bin Otaiba Investment Group, which also owns King Edward Hotel in Port Elizabeth and Blaauwbosch Private Game Reserve.
“We like to describe our style as still being committed to a touch of elegance, charm and tranquillity with a hint of sophistication, yet with an entirely fresh approach,” says the hotel’s new General Manager, Samantha Annandale.
“Hôtel Le Vendôme has matured gracefully and is more committed than ever to placing foremost priority on nurturing and developing relationships, while also providing friendly, unobtrusive service and we are striving to pay our utmost attention to guests’ individual needs,” she says.
Commenting on plans to extend the hotel’s offering, Annandale notes: “We now also have plans for a very exclusive African Beauty Day Spa, a top-class gymnasium facility, and even an entire floor dedicated to Executive Clubrooms, along the lines of what some airlines now offer. We are also planning a truly spectacular specialised coffee zone-cum-bistro-cum-bakery.”
She adds that plans are also afoot to implement a responsible tourism programme, starting with staff training and leading up to a full-scale ‘greening’ programme.
The hotel is presently rolling out a branding exercise that will see it reaching out over the next few months to valued clients and tourism stakeholders.
“I have been engaging extensively with my staff and suppliers to ensure that we are all on the same page in terms of our commitment, not least to being service oriented to the highest global standards of luxurious detail,” says Annandale. She explains that new value-adding products include the addition of a three-bus shuttle service between the hotel and the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
