{"id":32199,"date":"2012-05-03T00:53:01","date_gmt":"2012-05-02T22:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=32199"},"modified":"2012-05-05T01:17:33","modified_gmt":"2012-05-04T23:17:33","slug":"cape-town-hotels-more-optimistic-about-this-winter-than-in-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/cape-town-hotels-more-optimistic-about-this-winter-than-in-2011\/","title":{"rendered":"Cape Town Hotels more optimistic about this winter than in 2011!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>A year ago we first <\/span>conducted a survey\u00a0of top-end hotel rates<\/a><\/strong><\/span> <\/span>in Cape Town.\u00a0 We repeated the survey in August 2011<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, and in November 2011<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, to track hotel pricing trends. Ellerman House\u00a0has re-established itself as the most expensive Cape Town hotel, starting at R 4590 per room, and the Peninsula All Suite Hotel remains the least expensive 5-star hotel, at R1200 per room, the same rate as November 2011 and lower than a year ago.\u00a0\u00a0The hotels in Cape Town appear more confident about the coming winter season, judging by their pricing policy, only half of them having decreased their rates relative to the past summer.<\/p>\n

The survey found that the\u00a0average rate of the\u00a0sixteen 5-star Cape Town hotels surveyed is\u00a0R 2780 per room,\u00a0just under R1400 per person, an average\u00a0decrease by 23% relative to the November 2011 rates.\u00a0\u00a0 Across all 29 hotels surveyed, the average rate per room is R 2297, or just over R 1100 per person,\u00a021% lower on average than in November. The most expensive Presidential Suite is at the One & Only Cape Town, at R58541 per day, a rate which has not changed since November.\u00a0 Interesting is that larger top-end suites seem to have seen rate increases, while the standard rooms are more likely to be discounted.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once again it was interesting to hear how the calls were handled, most hotel reservation departments asking careful questions, to identify if the caller was a travel agent\/tour operator or a corporate caller, the questioning being very specific in this regard. Holders of a Protea Hotel Prokard would have had different rates quoted.\u00a0 Few hotels called had\u00a0a rate sheet from which to quote immediately, having to access their computer for the \u2018best available rate\u2019<\/em> <\/span>information, costing time, one hotel putting the call on hold to piped music while they did their rate calculations.\u00a0 Th<\/span>e poor quality of the call handling and quoting by the hotel Reservations departments must be a concern for their bosses, quoting odd rates (i.e. not rounded off) very quickly, making it difficult to understand and record them accurately; interrupting while one was still speaking;\u00a0inability to understand and hear the request, having to repeat the dates, and the number of persons; \u00a0the question <\/span>\u2018group or individual\u2019<\/em> i<\/span>s asked bluntly, without explanation; not all hotels quote rates with breakfast included, despite being asked for this rate (Protea Hotels quote room only, and seem surprised when asked to add the breakfast rate); <\/span>The Protea Hotel group quotes day by day rates, and the reservations staff struggle to quote an average rate, making it tedious to obtain quotes from them, as they have to quote the average rate and then add the breakfast rate. The Portswood\/Commodore Hotels, Bay Hotel\/Village & Life, and Newmark Hotels group have the same switchboard for different hotels, and even if one dials the specific hotel selected, one is asked which hotel one wants to book at! \u00a0For hoteliers it must be frightening to hear that not one of <\/span>the\u00a029 hotels called had a call to action, in encouraging one to make a booking, given that Cape Town has the best hotels in Africa.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Half the hotels have decreased their rates since November 2011, now quoting winter rates.\u00a0 However, Steenberg Hotel increased its rate from November 2011, by 4%.\u00a0 Interesting is the 36 % rate increase in the past five months for the African Pride Hotels 15 on Orange and Crystal Towers Hotel & Spa.\u00a0 The Ambassador Hotel has increased its rate by 27 % since November 2011.\u00a0 The Protea Hotel Breakwater Lodge has been known for its competitive rates, but has increased them by 24 % for winter, and is no longer the cheapest hotel of those surveyed.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0The largest rate decreases since November 2011 were by the V&A Hotel (45%),\u00a0 Dock House (37%), and the Cape Royale Luxury Hotel (35%).\u00a0 The rate of the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice increased by a dramatic 107% relative to last winter!\u00a0 The Commodore Hotel (61%) and Portswood Hotel (45%) also increased their winter rates strongly. <\/span>Interesting is that the Steenberg Hotel, voted the best hotel in Africa by Conde Nast Traveler<\/strong> <\/span>readers, <\/span>ranks <\/span>4th<\/sup> <\/span>on price now,\u00a0 having ranked at 10th<\/sup> position a mere five months ago. \u00a0The Protea Hotel-operated properties generally are at the lower end of the price ranking, being more attractively priced to fill their beds.<\/p>\n

The rates were checked telephonically yesterday for today, for the next three days, i.e. <\/span>3 – 6 Ma<\/span>y <\/span>per<\/span> room for<\/span> <\/span>2 adults sharing and inclusive of Breakfast per day,<\/span> <\/span>so as to compare the rates fairly . We added breakfast to the rates where these were quoted separately.\u00a0 \u00a0We have ranked the hotel rates from most to least expensive, and reflect the rate change on the lowest priced room relative to our survey for May 2011<\/span> in brackets:<\/p>\n

Ellerman House,<\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/span>5 star, R4590 \u2013 R14680. (The 3-room villa was offered at R45441 and the 5-room villa at R68000). Tel (021) 430-3200 (8% rate decrease)<\/span><\/p>\n

Cape Grace Hotel<\/span><\/strong>, 5 star, R4555.10 – R15388 for the penthouse, Tel (021) 410-7100 (1% increase)<\/span><\/p>\n

Mount Nelson Hotel<\/span><\/strong>, 5 star, R3730 \u2013 R11290. Tel (021) 483-1000 (24% rate increase)<\/span><\/p>\n

Steenberg Hotel<\/span><\/strong>, 5 star, <\/span>R3580\u2013 R14580. Tel (021) 713-2222 (Not included in May 2011)<\/span><\/p>\n

One & Only Cape Town<\/span><\/strong>, 5 star, <\/span>R3490 \u2013 R58541 for the Presidential Suite.\u00a0 The non-South African resident rate starts at R4856 Tel (021) 431-5888 (10% rate decrease) <\/span><\/p>\n

15 on Orange Hotel<\/span><\/strong>, 5 star, R2750 \u2013 R5370 for the one-bedroom penthouse, Tel (021) 469-8000 (1 % rate decrease)<\/span><\/p>\n

Crystal Towers Hotel & Spa<\/span><\/strong>, 5 star, R2650 \u2013 R3750.\u00a0 Tel (021) 525-3888 (25% rate increase)<\/span><\/p>\n

Commodore Hotel<\/span><\/strong>, 4 star, R2580 \u2013 R8040.\u00a0 Tel (021) 415-1000 (61% rate increase)<\/span><\/p>\n

The Westin Cape Town<\/span><\/strong>, 5 star, R2410 \u2013 R40000 for Presidential Suite. Tel (021) 412-9999 (19 % rate decrease)<\/span><\/p>\n

Dock House<\/span><\/strong>, 5 star, R 2396 \u2013 R3115. <\/span>Tel (021) 421-9334 (37% rate decrease)<\/span><\/p>\n

Table Bay Hotel<\/span><\/strong>, 5 star, R2360 – R4760 for South African residents, R2840 \u2013 R6050 for non-South Africans. <\/span>Tel (021) 406-5000 (25% <\/span>rate decrease) <\/span><\/p>\n

Twelve Apostles Hotel<\/span><\/strong>, 5 star, R2325 \u2013 R4565 for Bed & Breakfast, 3-course dinner, movie and popcorn, only for South African residents<\/span>.\u00a0 Non-South Africans pay R4165 \u2013 R8845 per room and breakfast.\u00a0 Tel (021) 437-9000 (19% <\/span>rate decrease)<\/span><\/p>\n

Portswood Hotel<\/span><\/strong>, 4 star, R 2320 \u2013 R 3960.\u00a0 Tel (021) 415-1000 (45% rate increase)<\/span><\/p>\n

Cape Royale Luxury Hotel<\/span><\/strong>, 5 star, R2300 \u2013 R10000 for the Presidential Suite.\u00a0 Tel (021) 430-0500 (35% rate decrease) <\/span><\/p>\n

The Taj Hotel<\/span><\/strong>,<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/span>5 star, R2300 \u2013 R40000 for Presidential Suite. <\/span>Tel (021) 819-2000 (5% rate increase)<\/span><\/p>\n

Queen Victoria Hotel<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/strong>,<\/a> not graded yet but seeking 5 stars, R2028 \u2013 R15000, Tel (021) 418-1466 (8% rate increase)<\/p>\n

Bay Hotel<\/span><\/strong>, 5 star, R2000- R2800.\u00a0 Tel (021) 438-4444 (25% rate increase)<\/span><\/p>\n

Protea Fire & Ice Hotel<\/span><\/strong>, 3 star,\u00a0 R1860 \u2013 R2110, Tel (021) 488-2555 (107% rate increase!)<\/span><\/p>\n

Cullinan Hotel<\/span><\/strong>, 5 star, R1850\u00a0 \u2013 R5159.\u00a0 Tel (021) 415-4000 (14% rate decrease) <\/span><\/p>\n

Victoria Junction Hotel<\/span><\/strong>, 4 star, R 1850 \u2013 R 2150 <\/span>Tel (021) 418-1234 (10% rate increase)<\/span><\/p>\n

V & A Hotel<\/span><\/strong>, 4 star, R1720 \u2013 R2170 . Tel (021) 415-1000 (45% rate decrease)<\/span><\/p>\n

Ambassador Hotel<\/span><\/strong>, 4 star, R1590 \u2013 R2020. Tel (021) 439-6176 (17% rate decrease)<\/span><\/p>\n

Winchester Mansions Hotel<\/span><\/strong>, 4 star,\u00a0R1550 \u2013 R3550.\u00a0 Tel (021) 434-2351 (5 % rate increase)<\/span><\/p>\n

Southern Sun Waterfront Hotel<\/span><\/strong>, 4 star, R1550 \u2013 R3220. Tel (021) 409-4000 (11 % rate decrease). <\/span><\/p>\n

Protea Hotel Breakwater Lodge<\/span><\/strong>,\u00a0no star grading, R1445 standard room, R1690 business suite.\u00a0Tel (021) 406-1911\u00a0(12% rate in<\/span>crease). <\/span><\/p>\n

President Hotel,<\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/span>4 star, R1306 \u2013 R1723. Tel (021) 434-8111 (11% rate decrease)<\/span><\/p>\n

Peninsula All Suite Hotel,<\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/span>5 star, R1200 \u2013 R3490.\u00a0 Tel (021) 430-7777 (24% rate decrease)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Vineyard Hotel,<\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/span>4 star, R1165 \u2013 R4270. Tel (021) 657-4500. (Not included in May 2011)<\/span><\/p>\n

Cape Sun Hotel<\/span><\/strong>, 4 star, R1160 \u2013 R5920 for Presidential Suite.\u00a0 Tel (021) 488-5100 (23% rate decrease).<\/span><\/p>\n

POSTSCRIPT 4\/5:<\/strong> Two Cape Town hotels, the Alphen Boutique Hotel (not yet included in this survey) and the Queen Victoria Hotel, are the only two South African hotels on the Conde Nast<\/strong> Traveler<\/strong> Hot List of Best New Hotels 2012. \u00a0Frommers.com<\/a><\/strong> has selected Steenberg Hotel in its Top 12 ‘Best Vineyards Inns & Hotels around the World’, the only South African hotel on the list.<\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com<\/a> Twitter:@WhaleCottage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A year ago we first conducted a survey\u00a0of top-end hotel rates in Cape Town.\u00a0 We repeated the survey in August 2011, and in November 2011, to track hotel pricing trends. Ellerman House\u00a0has re-established itself as the most expensive Cape Town hotel, starting at R 4590 per room, and the Peninsula All Suite Hotel remains the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[7,3,124,22,21],"tags":[5014,5016,115,114,208,1903,11104,32366,11102,6542,5404,11010,2229,15689,27,1326,3626,12145,11094,11103,11105,13802,15690,5344,5015,12600,8159,11100,1143,111,12599,15692,5307,11096,109,11098,11101,15691,173,190],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t