The President Hotel Marks 260 Years of Hospitality

President Hotel

This year marks a significant milestone for The President Hotel as it celebrates 260 years of hospitality in Bantry Bay.

Set between the Atlantic Ocean and Lion’s Head, the hotel has welcomed generations of guests while evolving alongside Cape Town itself. Today, as one of the city's most recognisable hospitality landmarks, The President enters a new chapter shaped by contemporary leadership and a continued focus on people.

The story of the property began in 1766 with the establishment of Society House, a seaside retreat overlooking Queens Beach. Over the centuries, the site evolved through several iterations including Sea Point House, the Sea Point Hotel, the Wentworth Hotel and the Queen’s Hotel before becoming Hotel President in 1967.

A defining moment in the hotel's modern history came on 3 June 1998, when Nelson Mandela officially opened the hotel in its current form. Nearly three decades later, The President remains a place shaped by both its history and its ongoing evolution.

"As we celebrate 260 years of hospitality on this site, we are also looking ahead," says Nikki Vardan, recently appointed General Manager after a decade of leadership in senior roles at The President Hotel. "Hospitality has always been about people. Our guests, our team and our community remain at the centre of everything we do." While we celebrate the past, we are also looking towards the next chapter. The President Hotel is pleased to announce the appointment of two highly respected and visionary South African leaders to its board.

Dr Shirley Zinn brings decades of experience across leadership, education, governance and transformation. A former Group Head of Human Resources at Woolworths Holdings and former HR executive at Standard Bank, Nedbank and SARS, Dr Zinn has spent her career championing people development and social impact. Today she serves on several major South African boards and is Chairperson of both the V&A Waterfront and Wesgro.

Joining her is Enver Duminy, Chief Executive Officer of Cape Town Tourism. Recognised for his leadership within South Africa’s tourism sector, Mr Duminy has played a key role in shaping conversations around destination marketing, transformation and innovation. His experience spans tourism, technology, financial services and business strategy, bringing valuable insight into the future of hospitality and travel in Cape Town.

Together, these appointments reflect the hotel's commitment to leadership that is grounded in South African experience, people and community development and long-term growth. “We are pleased to welcome Dr Shirley Zinn and Enver Duminy to the board,” says Jeff Closenberg, Chairman of The President Hotel. “Both bring deep experience across leadership, tourism and community development in South Africa. Their perspectives will support the continued evolution of the hotel as a place shaped by people, purpose and long-term thinking.”

That commitment extends beyond governance and into the daily experience of the people who make the hotel what it is.

The President has continued to invest in staff wellbeing through initiatives designed to support both team members and their families. These include wellness programmes, nutrition workshops, access to counselling and coaching for themselves and family members, family accommodation benefits, regular health screenings and a range of team activities that encourage connection and personal growth.

Rather than viewing employee wellbeing as a programme, the hotel sees it as an essential part of creating a sustainable hospitality culture.

Today, guests continue to experience The President much as visitors have for generations: as a place connected to its surroundings, shaped by the vibrant energy of the Atlantic Seaboard and grounded in genuine hospitality.

To mark this milestone, guests are invited to experience the hotel through a seasonal stay offering available for direct bookings. Available for travel between May and October 2026, the package includes a complimentary signature drink on arrival, a welcome gift, priority for room upgrades, early check-in and late check-out subject to availability, and an additional 15 minutes on all spa treatments booked during the period.

Designed around slower mornings, fresh ocean air and relaxed seaside surroundings, a simple invitation to experience the next chapter of The President Hotel.