From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.

Sashnee Moodley:

City Lodge Hotel Group’s new Courtyard Hotel Waterfall City, in Midrand, which opened on March 1, offers a full dining experience, a move away from a breakfast-only offering. This represents the vision for the group moving forward. Tasneem Bulbulia tells us more.

Tasneem Bulbulia:

In addition to the new dining experience, the four-star hotel also encompasses a new design concept in terms of its interior design, with South African themes and contexts throughout.

Courtyard Hotel Waterfall City general manager Brendan Luttig expands on other features of the hotel.

Courtyard Hotel Waterfall City GM Brendan Luttig:

Tasneem Bulbulia:

He also outlines the development process and ethos for the hotel.

Courtyard Hotel Waterfall City GM Brendan Luttig:

Tasneem Bulbulia:

Luttig explains the unique features of this hotel, and how it represents a reinvention for the group.

Courtyard Hotel Waterfall City GM Brendan Luttig:

Tasneem Bulbulia:

City Lodge Hotel Group Operations - Food & Beverage General Manager Trevor Boyd outlines this reinvention further.

City Lodge Hotel Group Operations - Food & Beverage General Manager Trevor Boyd:

Tasneem Bulbulia:

Luttig details the impact of Covid-19, and how the brand has responded to this.

Courtyard Hotel Waterfall City GM Brendan Luttig: 

Tasneem Bulbulia:

Luttig also touches on City Lodge’s efforts to further increase its share of the local market, and how this new hotel facilitates this.

Courtyard Hotel Waterfall City GM Brendan Luttig: 

Sashnee Moodley:

The 60 000 ℓ district heating project at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) Junction student residence continues to exemplify the success of a solar co-generation project, and how a relationship with Austria is being developed through a partnership facilitated by the South African Solar Thermal Training and Demonstration Initiative (Soltrain).

Simone Liedtke, who visited the site, gives us more insight.

Simone Liedtke:

While the aim of Soltrain is to support the target countries in changing from a largely fossil-based energy supply system to a sustainable supply structure based on renewable energy, Blackdot Energy renewable energy engineer Wally Weber has said the “true beauty” of the project was found in how the relationship with Soltrain bore fruit with investment in industry training and investment systems that “enabled the industry to talk about district heating”.

He also tells us a bit more about this specific installation at the Wits Junction residency.

Blackdot Energy Renewable Energy Engineer Wally Weber:

Simone Liedtke:

Weber also gives us some more insight about the Austrian investment, and how it influenced the success of the project.

Blackdot Energy Renewable Energy Engineer Wally Weber:

Sashnee Moodley:

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next time for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy. Don’t forget to listen to the audio version of our Engineering News daily email newsletter.