IFA HOTELS & RESORTS LIMITED
A PREMIER LIFESTYLE
The global office of the IFA Hotels & Resorts international group is head quartered in Kuwait with offices in Dubai.With a presence throughout Europe, Middle East, Indian Ocean region and Africa, the company now aims to enter other international markets such as the United States, Mauritius, Eastern Europe and the Far East. IFA Hotels & Resorts' successful listing on both the Kuwait and Johannesburg stock exchange indicates the international community's confidence in the group. Locally, South African Wessel Witthuhn leads the ever-expanding African & Indian Ocean operation.
Major IFA Hotels & Resorts' projects and investments in Dubai include Fairmont Palm Hotel& Resort, Fairmont Palm Residence, Crescent Resort, Al Nabat and Al Haseer shoreline apartments, the Palm Golden Mile all of these situated on Palm Jumeirah and the M�venpick Hotel & Residence Laguna Tower Dubai at Jumeirah Lakes.
IFA Hotels & Resorts other projects include the Kempinski Alabadiyah Hills in Lebanon, a major stake in the Four Seasons Hotel in Beirut, the Zanzibar Beach Hotel & Resort, stakes in five Lonrho Hotels in Kenya and in the YOTEL hotels group, which owns two YOTEL hotels in Heathrow and Gatwick airports, United Kingdom.
IFA Hotels & Resorts' products include vacation and shared owner-ship, lifestyle clubs, resort developments, residential developments plus travel and tourism services.
SOUTH AFRICAN INVESTMENT
While IFA Hotels & Resorts is the biggest foreign investor in the tourism industry in KwaZulu-Natal the group has invested more than R1.7-billion in South Africa across a range of products, which include:
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Zimbali Coastal Resort and Zimbali Lakes Resort - IFA Hotels & Resorts shares a 50% joint venture with Tongaat Hulett (THD) in a 700-hectare prime residential and resort estate development located on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
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Fairmont Zimbali Lodge - IFA Hotels & Resorts owns the exclusive Zimbali Lodge, managed by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.
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Fairmont Zimbali Resort - A new R1.2-billion hotel resort, with a unique portfolio of properties including Hotel Condos, apartments, ultra luxury villas, golf chalets and villas, including the internationally acclaimed Fairmont Heritage Place Private Residence Club, managed by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.
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Boschendal (Pty) Limited - A mixed-use resort development on an historic Cape Estate. IFA Hotels & Resorts currently holds 32,08% equity.
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Legend Golf & Safari Resort - situated in the Waterberg area of the Limpopo Province. The Legend development includes part of the malaria-free 22000ha Big Five Entabeni Safari Conservancy. IFA Hotels & Resorts has a 50% stake in this development.
IFA Hotels & Resorts is in the heart of the KwaZulu-Natal development focus, located 45 km north of Durban and within close proximity to all modern amenities - including several of South Africa's impressive 'Big Five' safari game parks and historic Anglo-Zulu battlefields. The prime location ensures ease of access to the Umhlanga Ridge new town centre and Gateway shopping centre, and the extensive range of amenities in the Ballito area. The new King Shaka International Airport at La Mercy (15 minutes away) will also increase the economic opportunities and tourism potential of KwaZulu-Natal's North Coast.
PARTNERSHIPS
IFA Hotels & Resorts' ability to form strategic alliances and joint venture partnerships with other leading groups drives much of the group's success. The partnership with Tongaat Hulett Development, a leading land development company in South Africa, created a synergistic partnership through which Zimbali Coastal Resort has grown into an internationally recognised premium resort and residential estate.
Other strategic partnerships include Kingdom Hotel Investment Group (Saudi Arabia), Nakheel (UAE), Istithmar (UAE), United Investments Portugal, and a strategic alliance with RCI (part of the Cendant Group).