HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY: Gqeberha hotel refurbishment signals faith in city’s tourism potential
A major refurbishment of the Courtyard Hotel forms part of City Lodge Hotels’ wider investment in its Gqeberha properties, while beachfront businesses are investing in infrastructure and security as they navigate the metro’s service and safety challenges.
The Courtyard Hotel in Gqeberha is undergoing a major refurbishment as part of City Lodge Hotels' investment in its properties in the region. The hotel, which opened in 2000, has seen a redesign of its 91 rooms, restaurant, conference facilities, lobby and public areas. The project, completed in April 2026, has created about seven permanent jobs.
City Lodge Hotels is betting on Gqeberha's tourism potential, with the refurbishment of the Courtyard Hotel in Summerstrand contributing to job creation in a city grappling with high unemployment. As of the second quarter of 2026, Nelson Mandela Bay's unemployment rate had climbed to 33.1%, up from 29.8% the previous quarter and 26.4% a year earlier. The Eastern Cape's unemployment rate stood at 47.5%, up from 44.6% in the previous quarter and 39.5% a year earlier.
The refurbishment is part of a broader investment in the group's Gqeberha portfolio, with two other properties – Road Lodge and Town Lodge – also set for renovation. The hotel industry's link to broader tourism and the potential for economic growth and job creation is recognized by City Lodge Hotels. General manager Andrea Anderson emphasizes the untapped potential of the Eastern Cape, urging collective efforts to boost tourism and economic development in the region.
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