A former Durban man who quit South Africa 24 years ago is one of two investors in a luxury hotel chain that is set to launch its flagship in Ballito next month.

This week construction workers put the finishing touches to the 107-room Hampshire Hotel.

Developed by United States investors Veno Nathraj, who hails from Parlock and left for the US in 1986, and Ajit Bhakta, who was born in Zambia, the hotel will be the first of four to open in South Africa.

Construction began in February last year.

The investment partners are planning to also build hotels in Umhlanga, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg.

They said the Hampshire, a "three-to-four-star hotel", had been specially developed for the African market.

"This is a new concept in South Africa. We run many hotels in the US and we have brought our American expertise to South Africa to help develop the hotels," said Bhakta.

Nathraj, who was involved in the construction industry before emigrating to Chicago, said the Ballito hotel would suit both business and leisure clients, filling a niche gap in the hotel industry.

"We believe that there is a shortage of good, quality, affordable hotels in South Africa. While we already have bookings for the soccer World Cup, we believe that the hotel's appeal will go beyond 2010.

"Our primary focus will be the corporate market because we saw that with the new airport opening in La Mercy, this hotel would be within easy reach of our corporate clientele."

The hotel's 27 staff were put through their paces this week as they neared the end of a 90-day training session. The team will be headed by the hotel's general manager, Rodney Bull.

Source:timeslive