Hotels play a vital role in the economy. In addition to generating employment, paying taxes, and contributing to the GDP, hotels energize business activities. They accommodate businessmen and serve as meeting places for business-related events (seminars, symposiums, conferences, etc.).
Dans cette optique, nous allons nous intéresser dans cet article aux cinq plus anciens hôtels en Afrique dont certains accueillent leurs hôtes depuis plus de 200 ans. Et surprise, un hôtel algérien figure dans la liste !
1. Houw Hoek Hotel, Afrique du Sud
Le Houw Hoek Hotel se trouve au cœur de la réserve naturelle de Kogelberg, à 80 kilomètres de la capitale sudafricaine, Cape Town. Le palace existe depuis 1779. Selon les informations disponibles sur son site Internet, les clients peuvent choisir parmi 81 chambres luxueuses avec salle de bains.
Le prix de la nuitée au Houw Hoek Hotel, selon le site de réservation booking.com, est de 100 $ « seulement » (environ 14 000 dinars algériens).
2. Hôtel Continental, Maroc
Located in Tangier, a Moroccan port on the Strait of Gibraltar, the Continental Hotel was founded in 1870. Picturesque views of yesteryear architecture and sprawling palm trees are among the property’s selling points. In addition, guests can enjoy free wifi and breakfast.
Rates per room start at $48 (about 7,000 Algerian dinars), according to Booking.com.
3. Marriott Mena House, Egypt
Founded in 1886 and located in Cairo, the Marriot Mena House is a 5-star hotel. Like the Continental, this former Egyptian hotel offers guests a colorful North African vibe, with magnificent palm trees towering in its courtyards and dazzling azure skies. Marriot Mena House features an outdoor pool, restaurant, and fitness center, among other amenities.
To take advantage of all this luxury, the customer will have to pay, if we refer to the booking.com site, $282 per night (about 40,000 Algerian dinars).
4. Hotel El Djazair ( formerly Saint George), Algeria
The 4th oldest hotel in Africa is none other than the El Djazair hotel (formerly Saint George) in Algiers. This historic establishment was built in 1889, and its architecture is inspired by the Victorian style.
On the hotel’s official website, we can read the following presentation: “Built on a former Arab-Ottoman palace and surrounded by a lush botanical garden, the hotel is one of the jewels of the national cultural heritage. Staying at the Saint George Hotel means reliving the splendor of an era while enjoying contemporary luxury. From its opening, the hotel was the favorite address of the English bourgeoisie, attracted by the mild winters of Algiers. The hotel was named after the British patron saint, Saint George. The hotel has known prestigious clients such as Edith Piaf, Simone de Beauvoir, General Dwight Eisenhower, General Mark Wayne Clark, Winston Churchill.”
The property offers its guests several secondary attractions, including massages, body treatments, an outdoor tennis court, a nightclub, a sauna, and free wireless Internet access.
The cost of a night in the luxurious rooms of the Hotel El Djazaïr, according to hotels.com, is around $174 (about 25,000 Algerian dinars).
5. Grand Holiday Villa Hotel, Sudan
The Grand Holiday Villa hotel opened in 1890. It is located in the capital Khartoum. In addition to accommodation, the establishment offers various services, such as a gym, sauna, meeting rooms, business center, hairdresser, etc.
The Grand Holiday Villa has various room categories with different rates. There are single rooms, deluxe rooms, and executive rooms. The cost of the night can reach $272 (about 40,000 dinars).
