How R1-billion will revamp The Table Bay Hotel

As Time Out Cape Town reported in July 2024 , this year will be a watershed for The Table Bay Hotel .

Long an icon of Cape Town's V&A Waterfront precinct – opened in 1997 by Nelson Mandela himself – overlooking the bustling Victoria basin, the towering hotel was once a watchword for Waterfront luxury in Cape Town.

But as the years passed the hotel fell out of favor: the decor got tired, the public spaces fell behind the times, and the rooms were woefully out of date. Unless you had a thing for heavy wooden furniture and floral chintz, that is.

So the announcement that the hotel is closing its doors this month for a complete overhaul couldn't have come too soon. With the V&A Waterfront investing a cool R1-billion into the overhaul, the property will enjoy a top-to-toe refurbishment that will include:

• A reimagining of the reception area: hopefully making better use of the views into the harbor to create a sense of arrival
• New dining spaces: the hotel's out-of-date main dining room, The Atlantic, is in dire need of a refresh, and the upgrade of the hotel will hopefully create a harborside destination restaurant for both locals and visitors. It's unclear whether Siba The Restaurant will return, but of course, you can still find The Siba Deli at Time Out Market Cape Town.
• An expansion of the hotel to offer an additional 45 guest suites, increasing the room count to 306. Let's hope the chintz checks out for good, and a brighter fresher look comes in. No word yet on who's doing the design for this rebuild.
• A new elevated pool bar and terrace with panoramic views of the Waterfront, city and Table Mountain. The Table Bay has never really capitalized on its views and location, so this is sure to be a great addition.
• The building of an expansive 'signature' spa offering. 
• A state-of-the-art Executive Club Floor and Lounge for InterContinental guests.

That last upgrade is thanks to the fact that when the hotel reopens it will no longer be a Sun International hotel. Although the South African hotel group will continue to operate the hotel, it will be branded as an Intercontinental. And as part of IHG's luxury brands, the InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town will become the latest member of the global IHG One Rewards loyalty program, with more than 130 million members worldwide.

The opening of the InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town will also mark the debut of the InterContinental brand in Cape Town.

'This marks a significant chapter for us in the African market,' said Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG Hotels & Resorts. It's a privilege to bring one of Cape Town's beloved properties under the InterContinental brand as the first in the city. With its rich history, scenic location, and a legacy of excellence, this iconic property perfectly embodies the essence of the InterContinental brand, and we are excited to work with V&A Waterfront and Sun International on maintaining its legacy.'

The Table Bay Hotel is still accepting overnight bookings for arrivals up until February 9, 2025, but looks set to close after the last check-out on February ^10th . The property is scheduled to reopen as the InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town in late-2025, presumably in time for the busy summer season.

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