Pretoria - In just six sizzling months of being open, The Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Menlyn has set Pretoria alight.
So much more than just another hotel, the city now has a venue fit for the lifestyles of its young and young-at-heart citizens. An exciting and different space to work and play in, it’s fast become the spot for Pretoria’s dynamic ‘in’ crowd of business people, government officials, and diplomats.
“Following our research into the Pretoria market, we carefully timed the introduction of this exciting lifestyle brand there - it’s a very new concept on the African continent and so it’s great to be able to bring something so novel and so dynamic to Pretoria, a city of ambitious movers and shakers whose choices for playing hard after working hard are pretty limited,” says Nicholas Barenblatt, Group Marketing Manager, Protea Hotels.
“We chose the suburb of Menlyn for the hotel because it is the growth spot in the city, an area where new buildings are constantly going up and where lots of social activity happens. We’ve created an image that taps into the sort of cosmopolitan urban life popular among people who want to be part of the trend-setting crowd. We’ve set up an indoor/outdoor urban environment where you can see and be seen. You can enjoy time at the bar with your bestie or simply put your feet up, device in hand while you catch up on mails.”
With that in mind, Nicholas explains, they steered away from the conventional and traditional and instead opted for décor to startle and surprise – an option far better suited to their clientele.
“People love it! The lighting and the colours we’ve used are really cool - our guests regularly comment on this. And they love watching the sun set on the Pretoria skyline with the enormous infinity pool behind the glowing horizon,” says Nicholas.
According to Mark Satterfield, Chief Operating Officer for Marriott International, Middle East & Africa and Marriott International’s Business Leader for Protea Hotels, “The success achieved with this property over the past six months has been phenomenal. We knew that we were tapping into a market wanting something different and Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! certainly fulfils this need by offering an extraordinary experience. This new addition to our Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! brand provides additional distribution whilst strengthening our brand positioning.”
The hotel is the perfect spot to conclude business deals over the finest whiskies or expertly-prepared cocktails. Clients can be entertained in style with delicious delicacies - perhaps from the hugely-popular African Menu. Make it a later night out with a variety of entertainment options – gigs by well-known local DJs and comedy nights showcasing crowd favourites and new talents.
While the hotel remains a popular choice for accommodation, they’re no stranger to a steady stream of local patrons popping in for drinks and dinner – to chill with friends, or sample the entertainment on offer. And more and more, staff are noting their popularity as a venue of choice for events like birthday get-togethers and baby showers.
Innovation and creativity keeps the venue edgy and trendy. It’s seen in the ever-changing events and food and beverage concepts the hotel launches.
So at any given time, day or night, Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! is a hive of activity – with some doing business, some there to enjoy an evening’s entertainment, others to meet with friends over a whisky or cocktail, or to enjoy new dining experiences from well-known top chef Genghis San.
Satterfield concludes: “We offer the best bits of everything – what more could you ask for in a venue?”
Adapted from a press release for IOL