Plans for Durban's new luxury R1 billion Club Med hotel unveiled [photos]

It's the brand that is synonymous with opulence and luxury. And now, it's going to get a debut in South Africa. Club Med will be adding Durban to its list of fancy getaways after the resort agreed a R1 billion deal with landowners Tongaat Hulett Developments, just weeks after the national Travel Indaba concluded in KZN.

The view from Tinley Town, where the facility will be built Photo: Dustin Thomson / FlickrWhat's unique about Club Med?Club Med offers a range of varying holidays, including city breaks and winter vacations. But they've made their name by establishing themselves on stretches of sandy beaches in sunkissed locations. The French outfit knows what tourists want from their travels, and it seems Durban has charmed them with its own je ne sais quoi .

Their sprawling pools and ostentatious builds come equipped with bars, spa features and the most pristine rooms available to holidaymakers. Each hotel is themed and tailormade for its host country

The Durban build, which will undergo construction within the next year, has been a long time coming for the city. Olivier Hannaert, MD of Club Med Southern Africa, told Tourism Update that Durban has been on its radar despite its reputation as a seasonal venue.

Club Med is not looking at the inbound trends but rather on our internal capacity to fill the resort. South Africa is an attractive destination for the 48 countries that are selling Club Med. All parties are excited and working hard toward shaping the first Club Med resort in this country.

Olivier HannaertTinley to host South Africa's first Club MedWell, let's talk numbers, shall we? The resort should have 350 rooms and 50 villas on its premises by the time construction is completed in 2022, occupying more than 30 hectares of land. And it's all going to take place in one incredible place: Tinley Town.

Photo: Czervonymszlakiem / FlickrDurban's best-kept secret has the most seductive coastline of anywhere in South Africa, and it's just 10km from King Shaka Airport. The ease of commuting from this quaint location and connecting with the rest of the world will become a major selling point for the developers.

There are three other African countries that have a Club Med, with a total of five hotels north of the equator.

Three in Morocco (Agadir, Marrakech and Yasmina):

Photo: Club Med

One in Senegal (Cap Skirring):

Photo: Club Med

One in Tunisia (Djerba La Douce):

Photo: Club MedDurban set for huge tourism revampAnd the multi-billion rand facelifts don't end there for Durbanites, either. Sihle Zikalala is the tourism MEC for the city, and he confirmed that both the Blythedale Coastal Resort and Point Waterfront are set for major renovations. The politician confirmed that R50 billion will be spent converting Durban into a year-round powerhouse.

It's an ambitious bid, but we love to see it: After a tumultuous start to the year, Durban is pulling out all the stops to compete with more established destinations like Johannesburg and Cape Town. With the addition of a Club Med and revamped beachfront, there's a very real chance that visitors will be flocking to the east in the near future.

Tags: DurbanSouth AfricaSouth African tourism

LINK:	https://www.thesouthafrican.com/travel/durban-club-med-hotel-r1bn-plan...
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