Marriott opens R1bn-plus first Edition hotel in Africa in Cape Town

Global hotels and leisure giant Marriott International has officially opened The Cape Town Edition. The opening which took place at the V&A Waterfront on Tuesday marks the debut of the Edition brand on the African continent.

Located at Quay 7 overlooking the precinct’s new superyacht marina and Table Mountain, the 142-room property marks the 24th global location for the luxury lifestyle brand. While US-based Marriott is operating the hotel and residences, the investment into the new hotel was made by the V&A Waterfront Company, which is jointly owned by JSE-listed Growthpoint Properties and the Government Employees Pension Fund (via the Public Investment Corporation/PIC).

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Moneyweb first ‘broke’ news of Marriott’s Edition brand coming into the V&A back in September 2024, after Growthpoint executives let the cat out of the bag during an annual financial results presentation.

Marriott’s latest addition to Cape Town’s booming hotels and tourism industry represents the biggest investment into a single hotel property in the Mother City and SA since the Fifa World Cup hotel development boom, when Sol Kerzner’s 131-room One&Only Cape Town opened in 2009. (The Kerzner International hotel initially had a development cost of around R600 million, but it ballooned to almost R1 billion after an accelerated build programme saw it open four months early.)

Moneyweb understands that around R1.1 billion has been invested by Growthpoint and the PIC (via the V&A) into developing the new Cape Town Edition hotel, which also was fast-tracked with the seven-storey building having three construction cranes and being complete within two years.

The V&A roped in Shanghai-based architectural firm Neri&Hu to design the hotel in collaboration with local architecture and design firm StudioMAS.

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While the new R1.6 billion Club Med South Africa beach resort on the KZN North Coast (excluding a separate safari lodge property that brings the Club Med development value to R2 billion) is the biggest hotel and resort development to open in SA (with over 400 rooms) since Sun City, the development cost for the 142-room Cape Town Edition hotel translates into around R7.7 million per key/room.

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Occupying a historic working harbour site, the development connects the international hotel brand to Granger Bay and the broader V&A Waterfront estate. Granger Bay itself has been earmarked for a more than R20 billion development over the next five- to ten years.

Highlighting the commercial significance of the opening for the city’s property and tourism footprint, V&A Waterfront CEO Graham Wood says: “The opening of The Cape Town Edition is an important milestone in the V&A Waterfront’s continued evolution and a strong expression of confidence in Cape Town as a globally competitive tourism and investment destination.”

Wood adds: “The Edition brings an exceptional international hospitality brand into a working harbour and connects it to the wider Waterfront neighbourhood through new dining, cultural and public-facing experiences.

“It also signals the next chapter for Granger Bay: a well-connected waterfront district that creates long-term value for Cape Town, our visitors and the communities we serve.”

The Drum 

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According to Edition, the Neri&Hu-led design of the hotel sees the creation of a low-slung, pitched-roof structure that incorporates over six million hand-laid bricks into its façade to reflect the harbour’s industrial history.

The interior layout features “The Drum”, a soaring, open-air cylindrical atrium at the building’s centre, and a rooftop space hosting EAVE restaurant and a heated pool deck.

George Fleck, senior vice president and global brand leader at Edition, says Cape Town is one of the world’s most compelling cultural capitals, which makes it a ‘natural home’ for the Edition brand.

“Cape Town has a distinctive energy shaped by extraordinary landscapes, diverse influences and an exceptional culinary scene… This opening marks an important milestone for the brand as we continue to grow in destinations that sit at the intersection of culture, creativity and global influence,” he adds.

Key physical features of the property include:

Accommodation: 142 guest rooms and suites, anchored by a 112m² harbour suite and a 240m² penthouse.
Food & beverage outlets: Five venues led by executive chef Phil Carmichael, including signature restaurant Shale, the Lobby Bar, EAVE, and the Punch Room.
Events & wellness: A subterranean spa with five treatment rooms, a 24-hour gym, and meeting facilities anchored by a flexible 200-capacity ballroom.

The Cape Town Edition hotel joins Edition’s global portfolio of hotels in some of the world’s most sought-after destinations, from Lake Como and Tokyo, to London, New York, and Riviera Maya.

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