BON Hotels expands Namibian footprint

BON Hotels, a South-African based hotel company that manages, owns and leases hotels, lodges and resorts throughout Southern Africa, as well as West and East Africa, views the potential of the Namibian market in an extremely positive light.

Guy Stehlik, CEO of BON Hotels says: “Namibia has experienced significant growth in its tourist numbers in recent times. In fact, statistics provided by Trading Economics reflect an increase from about 80,000 tourists in 2006 to over 1.4 million a decade later. The country is attracting many new visitors from Europe, as well as South African travellers. With the tough economic times in South Africa currently, some South Africans are opting to travel closer to home, rather than to go overseas, and a road trip through Namibia is a popular choice for a family break.”

Launched recently, the Bon Hotel Ngandu Rundu, situated in the north-east of the country, has a strong focus on environmental issues. Its location overlooks the Kavango River’s southern wetlands and riverine forest.

The hotel caters to a range of travellers, offering hotel bedrooms, family units, as well as campsites. “These facilities allow us to provide for all types of guests, including backpackers and campers, who are not usually attracted to hotels,” explains Van Eck. The hotel also offers facilities for local businesses, such as four conference halls and a restaurant.

The hotel was successfully founded in the 1990s and run until now by Oswald and Corry Theart, who are also the owners of the Ngandu at Sea in Walvis Bay. The Walvis Bay property, popular among corporate travellers, in particular, those involved in the fishing industry, will also be managed by Bon Hotels and will shortly undergo an extensive refurbishment.

“These hotels are our pride and joy,” comments Mr Theart, “but the time is ripe for us to bring in a trusted partner to help run these two properties. We chose BON Hotels based on their credibility in the hospitality industry and having seen the job they have done with their property in Swakopmund. We are excited about the opportunity to work with them.”

Source: BizCommunity