Bordered with pearls to reflect the Pearl Anniversary, a beautiful and tasty cake was made for the occasion. Fittingly, the hotel's first general manager, Roberta Rosa, was present, along with two employees who worked in the hotel when it opened on August 1, 1985 - and who still work for the group today.
Breakfast chef, Monica Kekana, has been meeting the breakfast needs of guests at the hotel for 30 years while Lynda Schroder has for several years been group purchasing manager.
Also very special was to have the hotel's first three general managers present - Roberta Rosa, who is now the GM of the Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton; Clifford Ross, who is the City Lodge Hotel Group's chief executive; and Tony Balabanoff, who is a divisional director of operations at the City Lodge Hotel Group. They were able to share some reminiscences with the current general manager, Brenda Botha.
The hotel industry has certainly changed a lot over the past three decades, but the basics still remain the same - comfortable rooms, friendly service, convenient locations and value for money pricing.
