A new era for Garden Route icon
From October this year, the hotel turns the page on the next chapter, when it joins the ANEW Hotels & Resorts portfolio.
ANEW isn't an especially well-known brand in the Cape, and that's no surprise given that ANEW Resort Wilderness Garden Route will become only the group's second property in the province (ANEW Hotel Green Point is the other). But upcountry ANEW is a major player in budget-friendly family resorts and unpretentious business hotels, with 19 destinations in five provinces.
But perhaps this is the beginning of ANEW's expansion in the Cape, and an excellent addition to the portfolio the hotel is too
The Wilderness Hotel originated as a boarding house in the early 1900s and was subsequently upgraded to The Wilderness Hostel in 1924. It's reputation only grew through the century, as it became as popular for its location overlooking the lakes as its tradition of laid-back hospitality.
It is, in many ways, a lekker old-school resort, harking back to a time when we didn't spend our holidays staring at our screens. Instead, the kids would be sent out to the two swimming pools or the putt-putt course. Adults would hit the bowling green, tennis and squash courts or perhaps grab a kayak for a paddle. Not that the hotel hasn't kept up: today you'll also find a wellness spa and Padel court on offer alongside a range of other activities.
'We're 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,' says Clinton Armour, CEO of ANEW Hotels & Resorts. 'The Wilderness Hotel holds a special place in the history of South African tourism, and we're excited to play a role in its next chapter.'
So what's next? Classic hotels can often do with a little touch-up, and ANEW says that 'refurbishments planned ahead of October to upgrade all public areas and facilities in line with the group's standards'.
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