R75m Meropa hotel adds to city growth

Sun International and Domba Empowerment Corporation (Pty) Ltd announced its R75 million expansion plans for Meropa Casino and Entertainment World that will provide a huge impetus to the blooming economy of the city, at a sod turning ceremony on Tuesday. A hotel with 60 rooms will be constructed next to the existing complex and is scheduled for completion by August 2017.
Kenny Maboea, Chief Director, Business Regulation of the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (Ledet), Mashile Mokono, Chairman of the Limpopo Gambling Board, Serobi Maja, Chief Executive Officer of the Gambling Board, Raleigh Maesela, Chairman of the Board of Meropa Casino and Entertainment World, Ndivhu Rama­libana, Chairperson of the Domba Empowerment Corporation and Thabo Mosololi, Sun International’s Director of Operations, were among the guests who attended the event.
Mosololi said that the development will provide economic stimulus for the region, both during the construction period and after, through job creation and tourism to the area. About 500 new on and off-site jobs will be available during the construction phase, with the majority of the labour to be sourced from the local community.
“Sun International takes great pride in its role as a corporate citizen of Polokwane and we continuously strive towards excellence to enhance Sun Meropa’s appeal so as to promote tourism to the city and thereby contribute to the local economy. By extending Sun Meropa with a hotel, we believe we can increase our contribution to economic growth and tourism in the area. We will be able to extend our offering to include a high standard of accommodation and service to our guests visiting from other provinces, and with the largest, contemporary casino floor in Polokwane, a selection of dining and entertainment options and a quality hotel, Sun Meropa is poised to become the premier entertainment, business and leisure destination in the region,” Mosololi said.
Mosololi explained that, in keeping with the complex’s exquisite Moroccan architecture, the hotel will reflect the discerning style, architecture and aesthetics that make the complex distinctly Sun Meropa. “On completion, it will boast 60 immaculately appointed rooms with a Moroccan theme of which 54 will be standard rooms. In addition, the hotel will have four junior suites and two superior suites. Catering to business and leisure travellers, the hotel will feature all the amenities and the high quality of service that our guests are accustomed to,” Mosololi promised.

Story and photos: BARRY VILJOEN
>>barryv.observer@gmail.com

Featured photo: Taking part in the sod turning of the new Sun Meropa Hotel are Kenny Maboea, Chief Director, Business Regulation of the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (Ledet); Thabo Mosololi, Director Operations of Sun International; Serobi Maja, Chief Executive Officer of Limpopo Gambling Board; Raleigh Maesela, Chairman of the Board of Meropa Casino and Entertainment World and Ruben Gooranah, Regional General Manager of Sun International.