30 Nov Multibillion Menlyn casino and hotel development to create a jobs bonanza
A new multibillion rand casino and hotel development by Sun International is set to spark serious job creation opportunities in Menlyn, Pretoria
Sun International is pumping a whopping R4 billion into the development of Time Square casino and hotel – a one-stop entertainment and hospitality development to be situated in the emerging city centre, Menlyn Maine.
The first phase of the ambitious development, the casino, is set to open its doors in April, with an 8 000-seater entertainment arena scheduled for launch in September.
Michael Farr, Sun International group general manager for corporate brand and communications, said the large scale development – the first new development the group has embarked on in 15 years – would create around 10 000 direct and indirect jobs throughout the entire process.
With a planned 2 000 slot machines and 60 tables, the Time Square Casino is set to become the second largest casino in the country after Grand Parade Investments’ Cape Town-based Grand West Casino.
In an interview with Business Report, Farr said thousands of direct permanent posts would be created, including jobs for the 600-strong staff contingent from Morula Sun after the group’s casino license was transferred to Menlyn Maine.
“About 2 200 permanent jobs will be created, including those people and other permanent jobs that were created by various service providers and concessionaires that opened businesses at Time Square,” Farr was quoted telling the newspaper.
In addition to the employment opportunities, the development is expected to generate around R2,7 billion to the fiscus over five years.
In a first-of-its-kind model in the country, Time Square hotel is offering consumers the option of staying in 3-, 4-and 5-star rooms that will all be housed within a single building.
“It will be a four to five-star hotel but offer 96 rooms at a three-star grading, 94 rooms at a four-star grading and 48 rooms and suites at a five-star grading. I’m not aware of any hotel in South Africa that does that within a single structure,” said Farr.
“It means that somebody [booking a] three-star room will be able to get the price point relative to that grading, but in a hotel somewhere between a four and five [star] hotel. They will enjoy premium luxury facilities, but can choose a grade of room.”
The hotel component of the development is set for completion in March 2018.