You may recall a while back I interviewed a South African tourism official who claimed Johannesburg was “the best city in the world”.
While applauding her dedication, I think Londoners, Parisians and the cab drivers of New York would be among those to strongly disagree.
I mention this because I have just returned from a visit to Johannesburg on the Mega Lekker trade famil, a fantastic initiative by South African Tourism to showcase the country to Australian travel agents.
While there I got to stay at the Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank which, as the name suggests, is in the high-end commercial, residential and retail northern suburb of Rosebank.
The area has undergone a major face-lift in recent years and now offers great shopping, dining and leisure activities. It’s also got plenty of security guards patrolling the streets, designed to protect locals and visitors alike.
“I suppose I want our visitor’s perception of Johannesburg to be changed because they probably have the wrong one,” says Jessica Redinger, General Manager of the Hyde, as we chat ahead of dinner at the hotel’s extremely popular on-site restaurant, Proud Mary.
“A lot of people are really surprised when they come into Rosebank. It’s got a phenomenal vibe and energy about it. So I suppose I really want them to take that experience with them and, of course, a bit of the Hyde experience too.”
Asked what makes her hotel different from the competition, Jessica gives a straightforward answer: location.
“We’re right in the middle of Rosebank, in the heart of it, with a shopping mall on each side of us. We’re also close to the Gautrain, which is like our metro express, so its easily accessible.
“The other point is definitely the product. It’s very different to other hotels in the area and has really kept up with the times. It’s also got this amazing restaurant, Proud Mary, that also draws people in as well.”
Although my one-night stay was relatively brief, I can report nothing but a positive experience from start to finish.
The Hyde has 131 guest rooms that the website says, “balance urban sophistication with bohemian earthy design”. My room was certainly tastefully decorated, with a huge shower room, large comfy bed, an industrial-style ceiling and interesting art work.
There were some great little touches here and there. The Antipodes fig & feijoa toiletries almost came home with me, along with a massive music speaker that Lady Gaga would have been proud to own.
I did struggle to open the mini-bar, which had a lock on it more cunning than a bank safe. They must have known I was staying…
Elsewhere the hotel has a large gym that’s open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and offers three different studios to choose from.
The only exercise I enjoyed, however, was to take a walk around the streets of Rosebank and check out the local facilities. I found the area to be buzzing in terms of cuisine, culture and couture.
“Within walking distance of the hotel we’ve got quite a few art galleries where some really well renowned South African artists showcase and exhibit their works,” Jessica tells me.
“You could also hop on the Gautrain and get to Sandton within 10 minutes if you’re up for a bit of a shopping experience. They also have all your high-end brands, if that’s what you’re looking for.”
Of course, the security question had to be asked. So is Rosebank safe for visitors?
“Rosebank is run as an independent precinct, so as you probably noticed when you were walking around, there’s quite a lot of private security in this area. Almost every building has security so it’s really safe to walk around.
“The precinct also has tourism ambassadors that wear reflective vests so they’re easily noticeable and if you need any information on what to do, they will direct you.”
Dinner is served and the hotel puts on a magnificent feast in a private room at Proud Mary. The food is incredible, the wine delightful and a perfect way to end a great stay.
So would they like more Australian guests?
“Absolutely. It’s one of our feeder markets so we’d love to tap more into that. We do see a lot of Australians in the mining sector coming out and also the leisure market too.
“We generally have quite a bit of corporate business coming in but we’re really trying to gain more traction in the leisure market as well. A lot of people just don’t realise what Rosebank has to offer.”
Now you do…
https://hydehotels.com/johannesburg
