NEWS

Home Suite Hotels plots the future of hospitality

As South Africa tentatively navigates itself out of its Covid-19 second wave, with a slight easing of restrictions releasing the stranglehold on the hospitality industry, Home Suite Hotels, a brand that offers a range of lifestyle hotels and suites styled for the independent traveller, has announced that two more premises are expected to open their doors during the year, one in Sandton and the other in Sea Point, Cape Town.

Home Suite Hotels first opened the flagship Home Suite Hotels, Bristol, Johannesburg in late 2019, and recently opened Home Suites The Quarter, Cape Town, in December 2020.

Home Suite Hotels is pioneering a new breed of hotel stay, moving away from large, impersonal spaces to a more tailored, curated environment suited to the discerning traveller – be that for business or leisure. Founder of Home Suite Hotels, Gidon Novick said that while the future of hospitality is likely to be different from what came before, home-away-from-home establishments that provide a trendy, connected and personalised experience are likely to be sought after.

“It is an extremely difficult time for everyone and many of us are still trying to recover, whether it’s health-wise or financially,” Mr Novick said. “Our Home Suite Hotels offer the perfect respite in a luxury, comfortable and safe environment and we are launching two more hotels this year, in Sandton and Sea Point, two of South Africa’s most sought-after locations.”

Mr Novick said the hotel group is able to attribute its early success to providing guests with a home-away-from-home experience. “Many of our guests are chief executive officers, industry disruptors and professionals who don’t want that big hotel experience. They feel safer at our premises, in terms of location and health. And, due to the generous size of our rooms, suites can be booked out for longer stays, for up to thirty days, making it the perfect escape to enjoy some downtime while still being close to all the action and amenities that a big city has to offer.”

Location is important, Mr Novick said, which is why all the premises are in the most sought-after suburbs, close to the cities’ action hubs.

He said that the hotels provide guests with all the modern amenities they’re used to, as well as carefully chosen extras, which they call “Suite Spots”. These Suite Spots, he says, are designed to take hotel stay into the post-pandemic world where the hotel blends a personalised experience for each traveller with flexibility and a homely environment.

Among the hotels’ Suite Spots is contactless technology, which offers one-time registration, contactless check-in and admin-free access protocol. There are not just conveniences, rather they are relevant offerings for a new normal.

“High-speed fiber is also no longer a luxury and so we ensure that all areas have superb coverage, whether the chief executive officer wishes to work from the room, a board room or even next to the rooftop pool,” Mr Novick said. Other offerings include 24-hour security, on-site baristas, Netflix and DSTV, home-cooked meals, a pillow menu and a high-end mattress selection. All the rooms are spacious, offering bespoke design and comfort.

As the world begins to adjust to what a post-pandemic economy might look like, Novick says Home Suite Hotels has hit the sweet spot with their hyper-personalised offering. “Guests can go downstairs to the chef and get a speciality cooked meal or request something special from the in-house barista. It’s this kind of personalised, flexible environment that we believe will drive the future of hospitality.”

Leisure travel has already resumed, with business travel expected to follow shortly. However, Mr Novick said, business travel has changed forever, and it is paramount that hotels provide these travellers – both while they are working and when they just need time off – the experience they require and demand. “We couldn’t be more optimistic about our branded boutique offering to cater to this market,” he said.