Protea Hotels will be spending R300m to refurbish and upgrade properties across its South African network. The group’s CEO, Arthur Gillis, says the upgrade programme reflects not only the need to stay current in a competitive market but also shows confidence in South Africa as regional travel hub. “While the industry as a whole has experienced difficult trading conditions due to the global recession, we are now seeing positive signs of increased activity across our network, particularly in the conferencing market.” Gillis says it’s imperative that the group also continues to invest in its long-standing portfolio of properties, where the bulk of the R300m is being spent. “The nature of the hotel business implies travel and the emergence of global trends, so that means we have to ensure that our properties reflect the desires of a global market, taking in everything from flat-screen televisions to executive workstations in rooms, laptop safes and dining facilities which resonate with the modern palate.” Among the Protea Hotels properties that will benefit are the Protea Hotel President in Bantry Bay, Cape Town, the Waterfront’s Protea Hotel Breakwater Lodge, the Protea Hotel Edward in Durban, Protea Hotel Marine in Port Elizabeth, Protea Hotel Hilton and Protea Hotel Imperial in Pietermaritzburg and the new Executive Suites at Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Cape Town. The upgrade programme will see substantial refurbishment of bedrooms, dining facilities and investment into interior design changes. The refurbishment programme is currently under way and is expected to last throughout 2011.