IHG Hotels & Resorts, has announced the debut of the InterContinental brand in Cape Town with the signing of InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town.

Sun International – which has managed and operated the luxury hotel since its inception in 1997 – will vacate its lease with the V&A Waterfront on February 28, 2025. Thereafter the hotel will close and reopen in Q4 2025 as the InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town.

COO of the Sun International (SI) group, Graham Wood, told Tourism Update that the group would continue to operate and manage the hotel, as well as be responsible for sales and marketing.

“We will also retain our own staff and our relationships with the tourism and travel trade will remain the same. We will just be selling the IHG brand and not the Sun International brand,” he explained.

Wood noted that there had been “very positive feedback” from the travel and tourism trade. “The IHG brand is well-known in South Africa and in several key inbound source markets. The brand taps into international sales and should stimulate further international growth.”

Ambitious plans

Inaugurated in May 1997 by former South African president Nelson Mandela, the Table Bay Hotel is located in the heart of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a mixed-use destination in the oldest working harbour in the Southern Hemisphere.

The V&A Waterfront, which owns the land, is investing in excess of R1bn (€50.4m) to refurbish and convert the existing Table Bay Hotel into an InterContinental.

CEO of the V&A Waterfront, David Green, said: “We are delighted to see this uniquely located hotel undergo an extensive transformation to re-launch under the prestigious InterContinental brand. IHG’s global expertise and standards and the all-important IHG One Loyalty program will attract additional international visitors to Cape Town. We are confident that the prestigious InterContinental brand will elevate the hotel’s standing and bolster the overarching tourism ambitions here in Cape Town.”

He added: “We are also pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with Sun International who will manage the hotel on our behalf, and we are firmly of the view that their collaboration with IHG will enhance the operating performance and customer experience of this iconic Hotel.”

Under IHG’s luxury brand, InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town becomes the latest member of its global IHG One Rewards loyalty program. The hotel will feature 306 rooms, including 45 new guests’ suites, with unparalleled views of the harbour, Table Mountain, and the Atlantic Ocean.

The hotel will feature a new elevated pool bar and terrace, together with a signature spa, and an Intercontinental Executive Loyalty Club Floor and Lounge. In addition, all the reception areas and restaurants will be reimagined.

Legacy

Sun International CEO, Anthony Leeming said: “For almost 30 years we have been the proud owner and operator of The Table Bay Hotel. We have successfully positioned the hotel as one of the most iconic, award-winning hotels in Cape Town. We have hosted dignitaries, heads of state, celebrities and families who have returned year after year because they loved the experience.”

Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG Hotels & Resorts, added: “This marks a significant chapter for us in the African market. It’s a privilege to bring one of Cape Town’s beloved properties under the InterContinental brand as the first in the city. With its rich history, scenic location, and a legacy of excellence, this iconic property perfectly embodies the essence of the InterContinental brand, and we are excited to work with V&A Waterfront and Sun International on maintaining its legacy.”