ANEW Hotels & Resorts

A mere two years since opening its doors as ANEW Hotels & Resorts, this innovative KwaZulu-Natal-based hotel group continues to grow from strength to strength. Following a series of well-considered acquisitions that are starting to bear fruit, the group recently bought shares in the Hilton Hotel, just outside Pietermaritzburg, at the gateway to the province’s highly sought-after Midlands area.

Excited about this new development, ANEW Hotels & Resorts CEO, Clinton Armour, says, “Both our Hluhluwe and Ingeli properties are located at pivotal points in Zululand and the south coast respectively. Now with the Hilton Hotel in Hilton Village, we have acquired another property strategically located at the gateway to the popular tourism area of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.”

Established in July 2017, ANEW Hotels & Resorts which includes the ANEW Hotel Hluhluwe and the ANEW Resort Ingeli Forest on the KZN south coast, forms part of a locally-owned, family-run business. The group owns and manages all its properties and has adopted an organic growth strategy acquiring properties and management contracts in strategic locations.

“Our vision is to be a hotel brand that is personal, distinctly different and unique in its own way,” emphasises Armour. “Our focus is unashamedly, intensely personal – our people, our personal values and our passion.”

With these values in mind, the group stays true to its purpose through the implementation of its HITEC philosophy –  Honour, Integrity, Team, Excellence and Courage. “It’s important for us as hoteliers to get staff buy-in. The wholehearted adoption of these five principles shows in the enthusiastic service our staff provide  – day in and day out.  It is key for the long-term success of our company.”

“We understand the importance that every member of our team plays in the success of the business and treat each and all our guests as family,” adds Group operations manager, Kevin Burley. ”In order to maintain our culture we have a rigorous staff selection process, that is followed up with professional onboarding and training. The entire team at ANEW Hotel Hilton, from the General Manager to back of house and guest facing employees, will go through the process to ensure our culture and service ethos is inculcated in all they do – from day one!”

With the ANEW Hilton Hotel acquisition, the fledgling hotel group is also leveraging off KwaZulu-Natal’s status as a burgeoning international tourism hotspot as increasing amounts of overseas visitors discover its magical beach, bush, battlefields and Berg offering.

Armour concludes, “Our Hluhluwe property provides a springboard to a unique beach and bush experience and Ingeli is the gateway to the south coast and the rugged Transkei. Now with ANEW Hotel Hilton we can give our guests a wonderful mountain, valleys and rivers experience with hiking, trail running, shopping and dining on the world-class Midlands Meander, just a few of the activities on offer.”

For more information, visit: www.anewhotels.com.