Sol Kerzner's latest South African project comes 15 years after he left the local hotel business. The new project, Tower Marina, will be developed on two man-made islands at the V&A Waterfront. This is the first hotel development he's been involved in South Africa since he opened the Palace of the Lost City in December 1992. The international hotel magnate, now aged 72, is spending R1-billion on the hotel complex to be opened in October 2009. Three rooftop penthouses, with with a 360° views of Table Mountain and Robben Island across the bay, will sell for at least R100-million each. The first penthouse was sold for R110-million in early June, making it the most expensive apartment in Africa. It was bought by a London businessman. The four-bedroom penthouses feature private lifts, terraces with swimming pools, a gazebo lounge, a wine cellar, his and hers bathrooms, a study and music room. The agent for the sale, Ian Slot, Seeff's managing director for the Atlantic Seaboard, said the previous record price for a penthouse at the Waterfront was R30m.
The super-luxurious 90-suite hotel complex will overlook a canal with two man-made islands — one with a state of-the-art spa. The islands will also have 40 villa-style suites. The hotel will have conference facilities, two international restaurants, including the Tapas restaurant with an estimated 12m-high glass wine cellar — the biggest display of local wine in the world — leading into the restaurant, with a private wine tasting room. Other restaurants include a pool-side diner and the world-renowned Nobu, owned by the Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa. The complex will include Kerzner International's seventh One&Only hotel. The others are in the Bahamas, Mexico, the Maldives, Mauritius and Dubai.
