Cape Town’s newest attraction

Author: 
SHAFQUAT ALI
Publication Date: 
Wed, 2010-02-17 14:32

His point was not missed on the guests, who greeted these remarks with a thunderous round of applause. Owned by Cii Hotel & Resorts Cape Town — a subsidiary of Cii Holdings — and managed by Coral Hotels & Resorts, it offers an alcohol-free environment. Coral is apparently the first dry and halal hotel in South Africa and brings with it the truly authentic Arabian hospitality the UAE-based hospitality chain is so famous for.
As the first Gulf brand to open a hotel in South Africa, it provides the largely multicultural country a taste of the Middle East.
When you walk into the hotel you are greeted with the whiff of oudh and welcomed with dates and gahawa. As you proceed to the poolside café you are drawn by the smell of sheesha. And after a meal of hot mezzeh and sumptuous shawarma, as you prepare to retire, you can enjoy the beautiful recitation from the Quran or see the faithfuls circumambulating the Holy Kaaba on your LCD TV.
Coupled with that you can hear the adhaan from not one but two mosques from the comfort of you hotel room. Besides, the Qibla sign is prominently printed in the room and the prayer mat is neatly folded in the wardrobe for you to attend to your religious duty if you are not proceeding to one of the mosques that is a stone’s throw from the hotel or the prayer room located on the mezzanine floor.
What more could the largely Arab clientele, who hold their culture and values close to their heart, ask for?
“This is a dream come true for me,” said Thabet Al-Refai, a leading businessman from the Kingdom. “The luxurious hotel, set in a Western environment, helps me stay connected with all things I cherish.”
By all accounts, South Africans acknowledge the Muslim culture and think highly of Arab traditions. They also appreciate the values that the faithfuls uphold. Sample: A piece lauding South African cricket legend Hashim Amla’s knock of unbeaten 253 in Nagpur, India, that appeared on the Sports Page of Cape Times on Feb. 8 began like this:  “Hashim Amla never seeks the spotlight. His faith declares that he won’t be found stumbling out of nightclubs or frequenting strip bars...” With such deep understanding, South Africa is welcoming Arabs. Not surprising then that South Africa in general and Cape Town in particular has emerged as one of the most preferred destinations for visitors from the Middle East.
“The opening of this hotel marks a new chapter in South Africa-UAE relations and will open the doors for other Middle Eastern hospitality brands to venture here,” Ismaeel Obaid Al Ali, UAE Ambassador to South Africa, told Arab News. “People from the UAE — both nationals and expatriates — are flocking to South Africa to visit this beautiful destination on holiday or invest and do business because it offers an environment that is similar to Europe without the headaches that come with it there.”
Group CEO for Cii Holdings, Hamza Farooqui, added: “In every respect, this new hotel symbolizes the spirit and substance of our dynamic country, economy and culture which as businessmen we have an obligation to promote.”
With the outline of Table Mountain just in front of it, the view from some of the rooms at Coral International Cape Town is absolutely spectacular. The goal is to appeal to both leisure and business travelers with an intimate, more personalized service and greater attention to detail in a comfortable environment that doesn’t feel over bearing,” said Jacqui Booyzen, general manager of the hotel.
“Too many hotels are built without adequate forethought or fore-consideration of a community’s needs. Coral International Cape Town is a beautiful addition to our portfolio and offers a safe haven for travelers in an alcohol-free environment,” summed up Michel Noblet, CEO of Hospitality Management Holdings, which owns Coral Hotels & Resorts, one of the fastest growing hospitality groups in the Middle East with a strong network of 33 hotels.
With the 2010 FIFA World Cup around the corner, the opening of the hotel couldn’t have been better timed. The demand for accommodations far exceeds supply in South Africa. The country is reportedly spending a whopping R40 billion ($5.4 billion) on projects related to the mega-sporting event. And a record 450,000 international visitors are expected during the month-long tournament that kicks off in June.
Knowing how soccer-crazy Arabs are, the one thing that they do not have to worry much about when making their travel plans to attend a game in Cape Town is, probably, where to stay. Other than the upcoming soccer bonanza Cape Town, with the unmistakable flat-topped Table Mountain rising to 3,563ft above it, is one of the world’s most iconic cities offering a great holiday experience with an amazing range of scenery, culture and history.
Its attractions are myriad — the cable car that takes those with a head for heights to the mountain’s summit; the colorful, hilly streets of the Bo-Kaap district; the busy shops and restaurants of the Victoria and Albert Waterfront; the curled finger of the Cape of Good Hope; the gorgeous beaches; and, of course, the offshore museum on Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 20 years.
Indeed, Cape Town is a tourist’s delight. And if that tourist is an Arab, the new Coral hotel will only add to his delight.
 
- shafquat.ali@arabnews.com

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