Port Elizabeth’s Historic King Edward Hotel Opens Doors

The King Edward Hotel, one of Port Elizabeth’s revered and iconic inner-city heritage landmarks, has opened its doors this week following upgrades and renovations, and the appointment of a new executive managing agent. 

The 116-yeard old hotel, which opened for business for the first time in 1904, is situated on Athol Fugard Terrace and overlooks the Donkin Reserve. It has been tastefully refreshed during the Spring of 2020.

Offering spectacular vistas of the Port Elizabeth harbour, the King Edward Hotel is an epicentre for several inner-city attractions in the Bay. These include the city’s famous Route 67, the Donkin heritage trail, the Richmond Hill Stanley Street gastronomy strip, the Baakens Valley, and numerous arts, culture, parks and recreation sites in St Georges Park and Central, all in 2-kilometre radius from the property.

The 4 star King Edward Hotel boasts 105 rooms, 4 conferencing and wedding venues with a capacity for 2000 guests, 2 lobbies and lounges, a coffee shop, 3 restaurant facilities and a centre for beauty treatments. “Many South Africans have fond memories of the hotel, and we believe new guests will develop deep connections with the King Edward Hotel.

It is engrained in Port Elizabeth’s history and heritage, and centrally located in the arts and culture hub of the city,” said Nadir Jeeva, CEO of Africorp International Properties. AfriCorp International Properties, a leader in inner-city real estate development and facilities management in Port Elizabeth, took over as executive managing agent earlier this year.

It is harnessing the expertise of one of its subsidiary companies with an established track record in award-winning five-star hospitality to revive and steer the King Edward into a new golden era. “For locals, there will be something for everyone, and the hotel will offer a fully halal kitchen. We see the hotel becoming a wedding and conference facility of choice and a preferred destination for inner-city conferencing and events.

“Once tourism and travel return to its peak, we foresee that the King Edward will add immense value to the cruise ship industry since visitors frequently opt in for heritage tours during one day city excursions.

The hotel centrally located on Route 67, and forms part of treasure trove of built heritage featured on these tours.” Jeeva said while the hotel’s art nouveau architecture and legacy are emblematic of a colonial past, the hotel will draw on local arts, culture and heritage of the Bay to ensure the venue’s spirit and character is undeniably South African in order to facilitate discourses of inclusiveness and diversity.

Each Room within the King Edward Hotel retains the originality of the Edwardian era within its décor, but finishes with modern amenities.

The King Edward offers a selection of different lodgings starting at R795 per room as an opening special.

For further information, visit www.kingedwardhotelpe.com or on reservations@kingedwardhotelpe.com or call Central Reservations on +27 42-007 0495 for reservations.