The hotel has ten storeys and will feature a rooftop function area as well as a 100-seater conference facility. In addition to 164 rooms (16 of which are interleading) there are four suites, meeting rooms, a swimming pool and gym. There is also a large, independent restaurant on the ground level. Décor is modern yet elegant, with soothing tones of fern and olive green livened up with splashes of tan and ochre. Succulent plants are echoed in the décor of the rooms, on the floor rugs and planters. The headboard consists of stuffed leather cushions held up by belts. A compact ash wood open cupboard and television unit holds the fridge, large electronic safe, and tea and coffee making facilities. A large desk with comfortable chair, rug, couch, side tables and full-length mirror complete the room. Geometric shapes are softened with foliage and furnishings. Bathrooms are spacious and have good lighting, separate showers and a large basin area.
Hotel signage out front is set into a living wall made of recycled plastic planters. The use of protea wallpaper and artwork in the hotel’s restaurant continues the green theme. Plush banquette and dropped lighting create an appealing space to relax, work and dine. The public lounge has a communal table with plug points as a shared workspace – socially distanced of course – and several comfortable seating options. Double-volume ceilings on the ground level create an airy, spacious and light setting for guests entering the hotel, with interesting artwork and textures adding to the aesthetic appeal. Full-length windows blur the divide between indoors and outside, making the most of Gauteng’s excellent weather and views. The public areas also feature various flooring solutions and wall coverings, and are illuminated by original and striking lighting features.
The rooftop restaurant and function area are designed to wow as one steps out of the elevator. A large, double-volume, modern space makes the most of its lofty position to maximise the views across the city and spectacular Highveld sunsets given the hotel’s western orientation. An arched chandelier dominates the space and the arch theme is carried through to the seating area. The colour palette is black, white and light brown, playing with a variety of stripes, checks and geometric patterns in furnishings, fittings and design features. Public bathrooms on this floor are monochromatic with black, white and mirror surfaces.
The four suites are also on the top floor, through a security-controlled doorway off of the elevators. Each suite accommodates two people and feature a full bathroom with bath (the remainder of the hotel rooms have showers only), small kitchenette and lounge area, as well as private patio with unobstructed panoramic views across the manmade forest that is Johannesburg. Their luxurious bathrooms have large open showers, and the rooms feature controlled mood lighting.
For business meetings and events there are three dividable 30-seater meeting rooms, which when consolidated can accommodation 100 people, or 120 people when set up banquet-style with 15 eight-seater tables. There is fast, reliable Wi-Fi throughout the property and plenty of secure parking in the basement.
The group is established in the Waterfall City mixed-use commercial, retail, office and residential area with the 149-room City Lodge Hotel Waterfall City. The rapidly growing node between Johannesburg and Midrand includes the iconic Mall of Africa shopping and entertainment complex, and draws both business and leisure travellers.
Andrew Widegger, CEO of City Lodge Hotel Group says, “Research indicates that this new concept Courtyard Hotel will be popular with our core market. The hospitality landscape has changed dramatically since we first conceived of this hotel as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; however, the key offering remains in line with principal demand and trends, and we are looking forward to welcoming guests to this exciting new space.”
Courtyard Hotel Waterfall City will be the sixth Courtyard Hotel within the group, adding to the one each in Pretoria and Port Elizabeth and three in Johannesburg. Once it is operational, the group will have 63 hotels in six countries offering 8,070 rooms to business and leisure travellers.
