Protea Hotels’ Douglas Allen has the world at his feet and is moving up! Douglas will be joining African Pride Hotels, Protea’s superior-deluxe brand, to launch the much anticipated luxury five-star Melrose Arch Hotel.  “I started my career at The Maharani Hotel in Durban, a renowned 5-star property in its day, before joining Protea Hotels in 1983.  Appointed to a management trainee position at the Heerengracht Hotel, which was at that time one of Cape Town’s most distinguished five-star properties, I am thrilled to have been appointed as General Manager of Protea’s first five-star hotel in Gauteng,” said Douglas Allen, presently General Manager at the Protea Hotel Victoria Junction.
Douglas has been with the Protea Hotel Victoria Junction since 1996, where he has guided and maneuvered this Premier Protea Hotel along its path of success.  The hotel has carved a niche in the Cape Town film industry, as well as the corporate and travel markets, securing room occupancy of over 80% throughout the year.  His achievements have not gone unnoticed, having been honoured with a large number of awards which include the Fedics Most Improved Hotel Award, the General Manager of the Year award, as well as the Keith Lamb Marketing and Protea’s Social Investment Award.

“Not only has Douglas been instrumental in the success of the Protea Hotel Victoria Junction, but he has also been very actively involved in the implementation of the Green Point Central Improvement District,” said Arthur Gillis, group managing director of Protea Hotels. “We know that he will be greatly missed at the Protea Hotel Victoria Junction and the greater business community, but he is ultimately our first choice to open the Melrose Arch Hotel. We strongly believe that the hotel will achieve enormous success with Douglas Allen as its General Manager,” continued Gillis.

Even though the luxury Melrose Arch Hotel is only set to open in January 2003, Douglas will be relocating in July this year.  “A new property needs constant attention to detail prior to opening, and I’d like to start taking responsibility as soon as possible,” said Douglas.  Continuing, he added, “I am extremely pleased to have the opportunity to be involved in this property from the onset.  Having an input on areas such as the planning and design will go a long was to ensure that the hotel will run smoothly”.

The Melrose Arch Hotel is the flagship hotel of the multibillion-rand Melrose Arch development, which recently launched its first phase of development. The hotel will incorporate 117 luxury bedrooms that will attract those who take pleasure in modern extravagance and sophistication.  It will boast state-of-the-art technology and showcase unique design features. Exclusive conference facilities will include an auditorium that will add to this hotels dazzling appeal.

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