The Beacon Island Resort by Southern Sun, lovingly referred to as The Beacon Isle is. This iconic property - an exterior of '70s concrete chic with a New York Guggenheim-type atrium and concentric corridors, remains a head-turner. Built 40 years ago but just completed a major upgrade of entire interior. We could smell fresh paint on our walls when we visited.
Someone in the know told me that when time-share sales opened initially they set hit record highs that today have not been beaten. It is easy to see why. Its location - on an island connecting Plettenberg Bay's Main and Robberg beaches, is as close to the surf as anyone can get.
I remember visiting as a child and loving it - it seemed the centre of the universe - an island of "cool". It is still geared to children and to families. What impressed me most is that despite that the vast majority of people who visit own time-share units there and, by definition, will keep returning, that there is still such a high level of friendly and efficient service.
An example of the value-for-money proposition is the food and beverage offering - contracted out to a third-party supplier, that is so well priced that locals pop in for a coffee or a la carte breakfast.
"Guests can now experience the luxury of a "new" hotel married with the unrivalled scenic beauty and supreme service excellence for which the Beacon Island Lifestyle Resort is known. The purpose of the refurbishment was to bring the interior and exterior finishes into line with the standards of the Southern Sun resort's offering. As with any seaside retreat, the property's infrastructure was exposed to the continuous strain of moist salty sea-air and we undertook a comprehensive overhaul of all back of house systems to ensure excellent performance for our guests and compliance with national regulations," says Deon Viljoen, Director of Operations for the Lifestyle Resorts Brand at Southern Sun Hotels.
Coral Reef replaces the below ground restaurant with windows that are splashed by the sea that once housed The Captain's Cabin. It is a white on white space with gleaming white panelling that is very smart. The space was only open for dinner when we visited in May which is a pity as I imagine the best views would be during the day.
The natural beauty of the resort is complimented by well-tended lawns and paved areas. All 200 rooms and suites now include a completely refurbished bathroom with a bath and separate shower. In keeping with the revitalisation, the resort's four restaurants upgraded their interiors and menus.
The Beacon Island Lifestyle Resort not only promises an unrivalled guest experience, but also focuses strongly on the environment and the communities surrounding the resort. As part of its Environmental Management programme, the resort concentrated on reducing energy consumption during the refurbishment and reduced energy usage through installations of energy control systems, energy efficient equipment, a guest participation programme, and the energy efficient conversion of heat pumps.
"Our aim is to remain a landmark hotel for the next 40 years... visually pleasing with unmatched service excellence, and to achieve both of these in a sustainable clean, safe and preserved environment", says Jacques-Louis Moolman, General Manager at the Beacon Island Lifestyle Resort.
