South Africa, Johannesburg, Monday, 2 August 2021; SET in a tree-lined suburban sanctuary in the heart of Johannesburg’s residential Sandton, The Catalyst Hotel opens its doors today for the first time and aims to live up to its name by sparking a change in the way people invest, live and visit South Africa’s financial capital..

The latest addition to the NEWMARK Hotels, Reserves, Lodges & Residences portfolio is The Catalyst Hotel, a stylish 206-bedroom apartment hotel constructed and furbished at a cost of R175 million.  The urban hotel caters for everything from quick business visits to long-term stays. The serviced apartments recreate the ‘home from home’ experience, offering convenience and space, in equal measure for visitors spending an extended period in Sandton. Interleading units comprise a Premium Suite – with spacious lounge, kitchenette, full bathroom and king bedroom with minibar and satellite TV – and adjacent Deluxe Rooms, featuring either king or convertible twin beds and bathroom with shower. All rooms are furnished with plush Restonic mattresses and cossetted in 300-thread count linen whilst the bathrooms include the exclusive Ben Sherman bath & shower products range. A two-bedroom Executive Suite crowns the property for those desiring more space during their stay.

The Catalyst Hotel is set to become a Sandton landmark thanks to the combination of its lush, leafy residential surrounds and two-block proximity to the heart of Africa’s richest square mile. A mere 700m from the Sandton Gautrain Station, Sandton City & Mandela Square, 1 kilometre away from the Sandton Convention Centre and a short hop down Katherine Street & Grayston Drive, to the M1 highway, The Catalyst Hotel is the perfect space to access all the retail and business opportunities that Sandton has to offer, while providing a safe and comfortable sanctuary to visitors – a chance to live in the city, at a convenient distance from its bustling energy.

Decorated throughout in greys, blacks and whites, accented with warm wood and sleek, white-veined black natural stone, The Catalyst Hotel also boasts significant green credentials, with 90% of its power supplied by roof-mounted solar panels and backed up by a generator that can manage 100% of electrical requirements in the event of load shedding. The property retains the human touch with a 24-hour concierge desk and reception. A well-equipped gym is complemented by a full-service Sanctuary Spa on the floor above and there’s ample space for conferencing with three fully equipped, divisible spaces that seat at total of 120 in a cinema configuration, with underground parking catering for both guests and visitors.

Ground floor restaurant, Kashew, is set to become a destination dining experience for Johannesburg foodies as much as it meets the needs of The Catalyst Hotel’s in-house guests. Chef Justin Jonah brings his fine dining experience at both huge chain hotels and luxury boutique properties to bear on an unpretentious menu that delivers bold, layered flavours without a hint of pretence. “I dislike the term ‘fine dining’ and my team and I are looking forward to delivering authentic, honest food with a mix of all-day dining, small plates and hearty main & dessert options,” says Jonah. “We want to smash the expectation that food in hotel-based restaurants is either over-fussy or unimaginative – at Kashew we deliver honest food that gives guests the option to linger over a coffee or cocktail with friends or enjoy a multi-course menu that speaks to rustic, home-style – but quality – cuisine”.

Kashew brings a double shot of coffee culture to the Joburg caffeine scene by partnering with Cape Town-based Camissa Coffee and using their Dark House Blend for an array of drinks. Cape Brewing Company (CBC) Beers are on tap at the 360-degree bar, alongside a wide selection of bespoke cocktails and accessible wines. The restaurant seats 120 comfortably inside, with a small deck alongside a plunge pool offering space for 30 diners who prefer an al fresco experience.

From left to right, Neil Markovitz, CEO of Newmark Hotels, Reserves, Lodges & Residences and Robert Chifunyise, General Manager of The Catalyst Hotel.

NEWMARK Hotels, Reserves, Lodges & Residences CEO, Neil Markovitz, says that the wait for the opening of The Catalyst Hotel – delayed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – has been well worth it. “The travel industry has definitely been one of the hardest-hit by the pandemic, but the opening of The Catalyst Hotel is a symbol of our commitment to helping revitalise and support the local market,” he says. “The property is destined to be a home away from home for our guests and long-stay visitors, offering easy access to – but also respite from – the beating heart of South Africa’s business hub”.

“My team and I are delighted to finally be opening the doors to The Catalyst Hotel. It certainly is still a very challenging time to be launching a new hotel property, however we believe that our offering holds a strong and authentic mixed-use experience of South African hospitality that residents of Johannesburg will enjoy, as well as visitors to the country’s financial capital, be it for business or leisure”, says Robert Chifunyise, General Manager of The Catalyst Hotel.

The Catalyst Hotel opens today with reservations live via www.newmarkhotels.com. An incredible Opening Weekend Rate of only R595 per room including breakfast is available until the end of this month, subject to availability. And make the most of your urban escape by booking into the hotel’s Sanctuary Spa for a 40-minute Hot Stone Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage for only R250.00 per person.

Strict COVID-19 protocols are in place to ensure a safe and responsible Catalyst experience. These include only occupying between 50 to100 of the 206 rooms at any given time and separating guests between the floors and tower blocks. Kashew Restaurant will only accept 60 guests at any given time within the 120-seater eatery.

For bookings and enquiries, contact: reservations@newmarkhotels.com or call +27 21 427 5900 and/or visit www.newmarkhotels.com.

For Press and Media assistance contact Ian Hamilton Manley via ian@publicity.co.za or call +27 (0) 82 8260 456.

About NEWMARK Hotels, Reserves, Lodges and Residences

NEWMARK is a leading hotel management company with a heritage spanning nearly half a century. Founded by Neil Markovitz, NEWMARK offers a comprehensive portfolio of hospitality management services covering sales, marketing, finance, revenue management, central reservations, operations, Information technology and human resources.

NEWMARK manages a bespoke collection of hotels, residences, reserves and lodges in South Africa, East Africa, Mauritius and most recently gained a foothold in Central Europe through acquisition of a number of boutique hotels in Portugal. The company’s portfolio includes independent, family-owned destination properties such as Cape Town’s iconic Victoria & Alfred Hotel, the deluxe Dock House Boutique Hotel, the Drostdy Hotel in Graaff-Reinet, Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, Motswari Private Game Reserve in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, La Maison d’Été in Mauritius and Chuini Zanzibar Beach Lodge in Tanzania. Currently under construction The Rockefeller launches on the Foreshore, Cape Town, in December 2021. The Winchester, previously known as The Winchester Mansions in Sea Point, Cape Town, is a new addition to the NEWMARK hotel portfolio and reopens on 1 November 2021 after a R90 million renovation and refurbishment.

For more information about the company visit: www.newmarkhotels.com