The Gaborone Sun at the Dawn of a New Era

The Gaborone Sun International Hotel has been happily welcoming guests for decades, and is now at the dawn of a new era. The long-standing luxury resort in Botswana has formed a strategic partnership with Minor International, a global outfit known for its hotel operations.

General Manager Derick van der Nest has been with the Gaborone Sun for five years, and has dubbed the new ownership as ‘the most exciting milestone to date’. The hotel already boasts a wide range of facilities and services to accommodate traveller’s needs, and has recently added even more to its offering.

The adjacent golf course has recently become the hotel’s new amenities partner. Consequently guests can now enjoy a complementary round of golf during their stay, six days a week, which also includes golf clubs and free access to Bluetree World of Golf Driving Range. The hotel’s new goals include an alliance with Air Botswana, and are currently discussing future opportunities with the airline.

They have already pioneered a visitor loyalty system, enjoyed by corporations, government and tourist guests who accumulate benefits with every stay. “We have a very good structure that includes loyalty. You spend an amount of time with us and we will reward you with complementary room nights. The more room nights you get the better the price gets, and then you get free room nights”, says Derick van der Nest.

He’s also proud of the hotel’s wide range of dining choices. “We have a restaurant by the pool bar area, a buffet restaurant called Savuti Grill, room service, and the best a-la-carte restaurant in Gaborone. This is Mahogany restaurant, which features live entertainment on a daily basis that we cap to just 25 seats per night.”

The Gaborone Sun has 196 rooms including a presidential suite, three suites, and two handicap-accessible rooms, also offering the largest rooms in the city. Guests can enjoy a wide range of leisure facilities, from a unique swimming pool bar to the on-site casino, to the floodlit tennis courts and the only squash court offered by a hotel in Gaborone. In the event that wasn’t sufficed, they also have an aerobics centre, onsite gym instructor, gym contract through Jack’s Gym, and a conference centre.

For those considering Botswana for business or pleasure, Derick van der Nest is confident the hotel has all their needs covered. “When you come to Botswana you will cry twice, once when you arrive and the other when you have to leave. Botswana is a great place to be.”