Tsogo Sun planned to inject R220-million into a three-phase revamp and consolidation of two of its hotels on the Durban beachfront into one “mega Sun” hotel – the Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani.

The revamped hotel, combining the Southern Sun Elangeni and Southern Sun North Beach hotels, would comprise 734 bedrooms, 17 meeting and conference rooms accommodating between 10 and 500 people and two fully equipped business centres.

Other facilities would include two gyms, three swimming pools (one heated), free WiFi connectivity and eleven restaurants and bars, Tsogo Sun CEO Marcel von Aulock said in a statement.

The first phase, which was expected to be completed by May 10, comprised the refurbishment of the former North Beach hotel’s Maharani Tower, which included bedrooms, the core infrastructure, the conference centre, public areas and the renovation of the external building facades.

The hotel’s main entrance would be recreated during the first phase, allowing for more seamless arrivals and better access to the complex.

New food and beverage offerings within the Elangeni Tower would also be installed during this phase.

Tsogo Sun would renovate its multipurpose venue on top of the Maharani Tower during the second phase of renovations, which was expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2013. The venue would be made available for conferences, launches, themed evenings and other events.

The hotel’s Camelot Spa would open on completion of the second phase. The spa included five treatment rooms, a double treatment room with a hydrotherapy bath and a Himalayan salt room within the Elangeni Tower.

The final phase would include the refurbishment of the Elangeni rooms and additional public areas.

The property’s redevelopment and investment was in “direct response” to the eThekwini municipality’s efforts to revive the Durban beachfront promenade.