The Vaal holds a century-old secret that has created memorable holidays for outdoor adventure lovers and families since the 1920s. Tucked away in the old industrial town is a majestic Grand Dame, the Riviera on Vaal Hotel & Country Club, with sprawling lawns and an 18-hole golf course, right on the riverbank. In 2020, Agriculture and Property Investor, Koos de la Rey was looking for the perfect hospitality investment in Gauteng where the domestic tourism market could escape without long-distance travel.
The Riviera on Vaal is in the upper Vaal River catchment area, connecting the North West, Gauteng, Free State and Mpumalanga provinces. With its ageless, expansive terrace overlooking the river where residents of this prime locality jet-ski and enjoy romantic late-night boat rides, the Riviera on Vaal presented the perfect opportunity for these hospitality entrepreneurs to turn the property into a profitable business.
While the world battled the COVID-19 pandemic the Grand Dame was undergoing refurbishment of its hotel rooms and conference centre. Starting on the top floor with the executive suites, the hotel room furnishings, carpets, and curtains are being updated for a contemporary feel while retaining the original subtle African interior. The conference rooms have been lifted with a radiant colour pallete and custom lighting.
“Our first objective was to maintain and grow corporate events and functions through affordable conferencing packages including accommodation and sports activities during the week,” explains Daniel Tharratt, at the Riviera on Vaal.
“The weekends are as much for tourists looking for convenient, legendary comfort as they are for the local couple who just want to enjoy a night out and a meal without breaking the bank. Everyone is welcome at the Riviera on Vaal.”
With a refreshed menu at Matthews Restaurant and a growing events & entertainment calendar, a slow trickle of locals began to pour in to sample alfresco dinners and enjoy lazy days by the pool. In December 2020, the Riviera on Vaal doubled its occupancy, while many in the industry were scaling down their operations due to the impact of the pandemic.
The second objective for management is to promote Riviera on Vaal sporting facilities to local clubs, athletes, and international sporting events. For the 2022 golf calendar, the management team has already bagged the South African finals for ladies and men tournaments of the Windhoek Lager International Pairs and the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour – contracted for five years. This aggressive marketing strategy has also secured some major fishing events such as the South African Bass Championship which will be hosted in February 2022.
It is this confident approach that sees the Riviera on Vaal steadily grow. The local hospitality and leisure stocks have recently plummeted by 12-20% in anticipation of the 4th COVID-19 infections wave and the tourism sector has lost an estimated 500,000 jobs thus far. However, the Riviera on Vaal is steaming ahead with plans to complete the building of a lavish Spa complex and add more exciting local events such as intimate picnics in the garden and music specials in the new year.
“One of the first things we noticed about the Riviera on Vaal is its resilience. From yesteryears when it was the playground for Johannesburg professionals to a time when it was a status venue for the local community with its group boat cruises and lunches. The Riviera on Vaal will be here, after the pandemic and we want to be ready for a growing cosmopolitan traveller.” concludes Tharratt.
For more information, please contact the Resort on email info@rovresort.co.za or telephone +27 016 420 1300. Visit our website, www.rovresort.co.za for great deals for your next visit to the Vaal.
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