Last Thursday, I got into a colourful dress and headed to the brand new hotel, Park Inn by Radisson Newlands. It’s the new kid on the block and whilst it certainly is impressive, quirky, colourful and full of grinning, helpful staff members, it’s the staff members that have the most heart warming story.
A third of the staff are deaf and 40% of the hotel is owned by DeafSA. DeafSA has about 800 000 hearing impaired members countrywide. The hotel is key to an empowerment initiative that has created income generating, skills transfer and employment opportunities for its members. It’s a scary statistic knowing that 70% of deaf people in South Africa are unemployed because of societal attitude.
I was lucky enough to get a bit of a tour when the hotel was still being built. I got a tour of the impressive kitchen when they were still unpacking brand new pots and pans and cutlery etc. I got to experience the hotel in construction, seeing the walls being painted and beds being moved in etc and it was wonderful to now see it completed and looking beautiful.
The 3 star hotel has 122 rooms, an impressive waiting area, perfect for meetings, free WiFi for the guests and visitors, wonderful high tech boardrooms with chalkboard walls, chef Morne who is magical in the kitchen and a wonderful entertainment area for cocktails and sundowners, breakfasts, lunches and dinners and so much more.
Right, so where was I… Oh yes, I donned my colourful dress from Spree, my Victoria Beckham denim jacket and LiliKoi blue wedges and headed over to the Grand Opening.
I had also run that amazing competition to win a night stay at the hotel and then Lumineers tickets the following evening. Lauren and her husband won the prize and I was thrilled to meet them. I hope you guys had an amazing stay and an amazing time at the concert.
The red carpet was set out and selfie sticks were handed out too…
I bumped into the beautiful Filipa, who I actually interviewed at Park Inn… See the video here
A manicure station was ready for the ladies… You may recognise some of these Idols contestants
Hellen Zille was there too. She mingled with the crowd, obliged everyone wanting to use their new selfie sticks with her and made a wonderful, heart felt speech to open the hotel. Sign language interpreters signed every word of all the various speeches and it was fascinating to watch.
The whole hotel was lit up in a bright colourful light show…
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My amazing (unbiasedly)Sox DJ’d…
The incredibly talented Jimmy Nevis performed…
It was such a fantastic, fun evening of delicious food, drinks, good music and excellent company. Well done to Renaldo, Brendon and the whole Park Inn team – it was amazing to be there.
To book a stay at the hotel, a meal with chef Morne or even the conference rooms (you know you want to draw all over those chalkboard walls) then call: +27 (21) 8226500 or click here: http://www.parkinn.com/hotel-capetown-newlands
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