Background
This 5-star hotel is a Tsogo Sun Hotels property, with the group operating over 90 hotels across South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique and the Seychelles.
Where is it?
It’s situated in the heart of Sandton, the business and financial ‘capital’ of Johannesburg, and across the road from Sandton City shopping mall, Nelson Mandela Square and Sandton Convention Centre. The location of the latter means the hotel is ideal for those attending conferences or exhibitions, with SCC regarded as one of the premier conferencing venues in South Africa. The local Gautrain station is about 10 minutes’ walk away, and links to O.R. Tambo International Airport, which is 40 kilometres away. The hotel runs a shuttle to the station every 20 minutes, from 06h00 to 20h00.
What’s it Like?
I had a rough flight from Lagos. So, all I was looking forward to was a comfortable bed. Well, I got that and much more.
Room Facilities
InterContinental Johannesburg Sandton Towers has 231 rooms, made up of 178 deluxe rooms (king or twin), two wheelchair accessible rooms (king or twin), 16 deluxe suites, one penthouse suite (which comes with private butler), and 34 club floor deluxe rooms. Those club floor rooms are situated between the 26th and 28th floors and are reserved for guests with Priority Club membership. It has its own reception area, two executive lounges offering a fully-inclusive breakfast, along with cocktails between 17h00 and 21h00, snacks and drinks, and the complimentary use of its executive boardroom for an hour a day. I had a deluxe room (36 square metres) and it lived up to its name. The contemporary design of the room was complemented by the high-end finishes, along with standout features such as comprehensive satellite TV package, DVD player, espresso machine, complimentary beverages, Bose docking station, and most importantly, complimentary Wi-Fi, which meant I was able to remain connected to my office throughout my stay. As befitting a 5-star property in Sandton, my bathroom was spacious and luxurious, with deluxe toiletries and separate bath and shower. 24-hour in-room dining was also available.
Meeting and Business Facilities
The hotel operates a fully-equipped business centre with secretarial staff on hand to assist. Adjacent to the executive boardroom – which can accommodate six delegates – the hotel has a skywalk that connects to the Sandton Convention Centre, which was particularly handy for me, as that is where I needed to be. It felt like I woke up, took a shower, had breakfast and walked into the conference, without ever having to leave the hotel complex.
Leisure Facilities
The hotel has a pool deck, with seating for small groups and sun-loungers surrounding. There is also a state-of-the-art gym and sauna facilities, which are accessible 24 hours a day. Guests can also make use of the Sandton Sun Spa, located just across the skywalk.
Restaurants and Bars
The in-house restaurant is the Atrium restaurant on the ground floor. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and is open seven days a week, serving a variety of dishes. I found it quite a welcoming space, with its large floor-to-ceiling windows and relaxed atmosphere. If you’re a jazz fan, it’s also the place to be, Monday to Friday between 17h00 and 20h00, as that’s when the local jazz band entertains patrons. Altogether, a place I enjoyed sipping a few drinks in.
Verdict
5-Star. Not much more to say and very difficult to find fault with what is clearly an excellent property, in prime Johannesburg location, with a fantastic offering.
Contact
Sandton +27 11 7805555 icsandtontowers.com
Afam Anyika