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Property Profile Sol Kerzner: Sol of the Earth
Yes, Sol Kerzner is back. And if we thought that Sun City and the Palace of the Lost City was mind blowing, this time round we’re in for a much bigger surprise. In the 17 years since he left our shores, the legendary Kerzner has been very busy; he’s created noteworthy holiday destinations – not mere resorts – in far-flung locations around the globe, from the US and the Bahamas to Mauritius, the UK and Dubai. And wherever he’s left his mark, he’s changed the way people think about holidays. Sol doesn’t build hotels; he builds dreams. And when we stay in one of his fantastical resorts, he makes sure our dreams come true. He’s so darn good at pre-empting us that he creates experiences we hadn’t even known we wanted. Simply put, if you had to visualise the ideal holiday paradise and then visited one of Sol’s legendary creations, you’d find he’s gone one better than you could ever have imagined… We meet in an oasis of quiet and luxury, sealed off from the mayhem, the buzz and the dust of the construction site outside. Inside, it’s cool, and Sol is calm and collected. He’s waiting patiently for me to ask my first question, and I’m so nonplussed at being the focus of his direct blue gaze, that I forget to remove my bright orange hard hat. ‘It’s great to be back opening hotels,’ he admits. ‘I’m confident that the One&Only Cape Town is going to be fantastic for me, in terms of returning to SA. This resort has really turned out to be quite unusual and special. It’s located in the centre of one of the most beautiful cities in the world; Cape Town itself has a terrific resort feel. It’s also surrounded by water and trees, so it has a perfect location. The entire resort has been built using majestic Table Mountain as its focus, so no matter where you are, you can see the mountain.’ As the legend talks, his consorts sagely nod their heads. There’s a softness now in his voice and in his tone, so it’s difficult to tell whether this is the consummate professional telling it like it is, or Sol, at ease with himself and his surrounds. ‘We started working on construction in September last year,’ he tells us. ‘It was initially supposed to be complete in June, then May, and now we’re opening in April. It’s taken just five months to complete – and that says a lot about the people involved. It’s been great working with such skilled professionals. In fact, the resort is an all-South African product. And it will be up to the best standard of anything we’ve ever done. The secret for me is selecting creative people who create outstanding resorts. These relationships are critical in doing outstanding projects.’ And over the years, he says, he’s developed very personal relationships with some of them. Cape Town architect Dennis Fabian has worked with Sol before and built a number of his homes. New York-based interior designer Adam D. Tihany, who created 267 bespoke pieces of furniture for the One&Only Cape Town project, was also responsible for decorating a number of restaurants for Sol’s resorts worldwide, as well as his Mexico resort. The famous Japanese chef Nobuyuki ‘Nobu’ Matsuhisa is opening the first outpost of his legendary restaurant, Nobu, in Africa. And renowned enfant terrible, Gordon Ramsay, is opening a branch of his successful maze restaurants to the left of the One&Only’s spectacular entrance hall. What’s it like, creating fantasy worlds for people? Sol thinks long and hard. ‘I don’t create the resorts, it’s not one man’s idea,’ he insists. ‘When we do things, we keep our heads down and work as a team. Yes, I lead the team. I take the lead and back the projects. But it’s not just me. It’s all of us. It’s taken us a number of years to make this project work. And we have worked together throughout – I’m working with great talent, an incredible team of people, and we bounce things about, work through things together to get them right. What’s next? ‘We’ve got a new brand opening in Morocco mid-October. It’s outside Casablanca, a 500-key casino hotel entertainment complex with a spa. Gary Player’s doing the golf course. He designed the first golf course for me for Sun City in 1978/’79. It’s a very special resort, a whole new ball game. And I’m very excited about it.’ After this, Sol adds, all other projects are going to be put on hold until things improve. ‘This [2009] is going to be an extremely tough year economically. It’s unlikely to get a lot better, but we’re prepared for this and we’re going to buckle down…’ He adds, ‘SA is not as badly affected as other countries. We’re opening at a time where the economy is challenging both domestically and internationally. But I think that in the medium term it’s going to be a huge success. It’s going to be a beautiful hotel.’ What advice would Sol give young entrepreneurs today? There’s a glimmer of a smile before he answers. ‘It’s important to follow your instincts. It’s important to recognise what you’re likely to enjoy doing. Let’s face it, it’s difficult to excel if you don’t enjoy what you’re doing. In my early 20s, I worked as an accountant. I felt very early on in my career that I was just passing time, as I really wanted to be in hotels. You know, I developed my first resort in Durban – it was the very first time Umhlanga had seen anything like it. The Beverly Hills was located in the Natal cane fields…’ Sol pauses, looks at my watch, and realises that my time is up. ‘Nothing replaces hard work and a bit of good luck,’ he says quietly. And my time is over. The One&Only Cape Town opens on 3 April. For reservations call +27 (0)21 431 5800, or visit www.oneandonlyresorts.com. |
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It’s only as one enters the noise and bustle of the construction site of the One&Only Cape Town that one realises the enormity of the project: emerging like a butterfly from a magical chrysalis are modern structures that will form a magnificent pleasure dome. 
