The heat of the coolest hotel in the country for the “forever young” set is spreading to Gauteng as Protea Hotels’ hip, urban and contemporary offering Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! - Melrose Arch is set to open its doors to the public in the first quarter of 2010.

This new hotel was announced to the market in July 2009 as Protea Hotel Melrose Arch. Following the anticipation, success and conversations around Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! in Cape Town (which recently opened the new extension including new bedrooms, conference rooms, a gym and pool), creative direction changed to give Johannesburgers something similar, yet completely different. This decision was based on the demand from the domestic and international markets who raved about the innovative energy resonating from the hotel. As with the sizzling Cape Town vibe, this new hotel is located in the buzzing Melrose Arch Precinct which is home to technology, creative and financial services companies that are surrounded by social and fashionable hubs of retail and café society.

“We are extremely proud of what we have achieved with Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! in Cape Town,” said Danny Bryer, Group Marketing and Revenue Director, Protea Hotels, “Its uniqueness has been talked about around the world and it made sense to expand the hip and stylish Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! concept into Melrose Arch, which is probably the most trendy business and leisure hub in the province.”

Step into the hotel and guests are neither at home nor in the office: they are in a third space that is very now and makes clever use of fashionable design and décor techniques. Excellent and relevant music, TV channel mixes, latest trend bar and restaurant services and offerings make this 197-room hotel an appealing venue for the young at heart. The hotel offers its own restaurant where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served, as well as a street level deli for a light snack. However, guests can eat out at one of the many incredible restaurants in the area, such as the Pigalle, JB’s Corner and the world-renowned Moyo restaurant. The March Restaurant at the luxurious African Pride - Melrose Arch Hotel offers guests a world-class dining experience, where décor meets a whimsical fusion of intercontinental flavours. For those a little more serious, but still wanting a sense of fun whilst doing business, the hotel offers 4 multi-functional conference rooms, 4 meeting rooms and a business centre.

As with all Protea Hotels, the staff are what make the difference, young-thinking attitudes from the team pleases all age markets from young technology eccentrics to aging baby-boomers. Although this urban hotel is 3-stars, it will exceed guests’ expectations by offering service levels and features indicative of a property with a much higher star grading.

Protea Hotels has been working closely with AMDEC as this “African international” precinct continues to develop and become one of the most sought after locations for retail, residential and commercial property in the country.

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