This article has been updated on August 7, 10h40, following response from Misty Blue Group.
Aha Hotels & Lodges has parted ways with Misty Blue Properties from August 1, due to Misty Blue’s alleged non-payment of management fees for several months.
Aha made the decision to terminate agreements concluded with Huntrex 302 Proprietary Limited after several months of efforts to procure payment yielded no results.
From August 1, aha has said it will no longer operate, or be responsible for, the following properties:
- Auberge Hollandaise Guest House
- The Square Boutique Hotel and Spa
- Urban Park Hotel and Spa
- Waterfront Hotel & Spa (formerly Docklands Hotel)
- Imperial Hotel
Aha has said it will continue to pursue the legal action instituted against the owner of the hotels to recover the money owing to it.
Properties in the KwaZulu Natal node that still form part of the aha portfolio include:
- Aha Riverside Hotel and Conference Centre
- Avondale Boutique Hotel
- Aha Gateway Hotel
Updated comment from Misty Blue Group
Misty Blue Group stated in a press release sent to Tourism Update that "as of August 1, all hotels in the Misty Blue portfolio will not be part of the aha Hotels & Lodges any longer. Misty Blue decided to terminate all of its aha management contracts due to an impasse that has been reached some time ago between the companies, based largely on non-performance from aha Hotels' side. The matter is currently being dealt with in a pending civil case".
The previous aha-branded hotels will henceforth be trading under their individual hotel names. Director of Misty Blue Group, Vejan Pillay, said: "We are looking forward to the new opportunities that this move has offered us, and are very excited to share this news with all our industry partners."
