After a rigorous selection process, starting with 10 suitors, Newmark Hotels, a well-established Cape Town based hotel operator, has been chosen as the preferred new manager for the newly refurbished The Winchester, formerly known as Winchester Mansions Hotel, on Sea Point’s picturesque promenade. “I am heartened with the great quality of operators we spoke to and negotiated with!” says Nils Heckscher, Head of Africa for PKF hotelexperts. Operator search is one of PKF’s key competencies, a service not very well known in the Southern African context. The owner centric approach assists owners to find the right operator and/or brand for their hospitality product and to negotiate the best possible outcome for both parties.
“Together with my colleague Stefan Catic, who heads our international operator search department, we had very good discussions as well as tough negotiations, with a variety of operators focusing on the benefit for the owners of The Winchester. We are delighted to have secured the services of Newmark Hotels who bring great hospitality and marketing skills to the project as the industry emerges from the devastating effects of Covid 19.”
“Recognising Nils’ history with the hotel, PKF hotelexperts were engaged to assist us with this process and we’re glad we did. They provided us with an unbiased, well thought-out process that led to us appointing Newmark Hotels as the chosen operator for our hotel. Employing the right operator is key in these competitive times and we look forward to working with Neil Markowitz and his team.” comments Frances E. Wainford, owner of The Winchester.
The Winchester is an iconic hotel dating back to the 1920s, built in mock Cape Dutch architecture and just completed a full refurbishment of all its 76 bathrooms, passages as well as the entrance and its secluded courtyard the hotel is famous for. The new operator plans to re-open the hotel at the beginning of October, welcoming back many regulars and new curious guests to a new version of an old favourite.
