“Dynamite comes in small packages” is definitely characteristic of Chandreshwar Singh, the newly appointed General Manager of Tsogo Sun’s hotel complex in the Cape Town city centre. Raised in Umtata in the Eastern Cape, Singh is well suited and in a perfect place in his career to take on the challenge of opening and leading the team of the dual hotel complex set to open in September 2017.
The new property will consist of two products in one complex, a 202-bedroom latest-design SunSquare Cape Town City Bowl hotel and a 302-bedroom new generation StayEasy Cape Town City Bowl hotel. Each will have its own unique character and appeal, but the overriding offering in both is affordable and stylish, high-quality accommodation.
No stranger to Tsogo Sun or to Cape Town, Singh describes his new position as a huge opportunity. “This will be my first General Manager position and if I look back to where I started, I have come full circle and will now be managing my own hotel. It’s something quite special to open a new hotel and I am humbled at being selected to do so,” says Singh.
Singh, who comes from a conservative Indian family and who started his studies in Chemical Engineering, began his career journey running a back-packers in Durban. In 2000 he moved with his wife and children to Cape Town and started working at the Table Bay hotel, stocking and refilling the mini bar. It was during this time, immersed in the constant energy and hype of the 5-star hotel, that Singh realized he wanted to have a career in hospitality. With a fiercely determined attitude, he worked his way up to concierge, valet driver and then on to reception and the front office department as the Assistance Front Office Manager. After 6 years at the Table Bay, Singh moved to Arabella Sheraton (which rebranded to The Westin in 2007) where he held the position of Front Office Manager for 3 years. 2009 saw Singh join the Tsogo Sun group at the Southern Sun Newlands hotel.
It was as Southern Sun Newlands that Singh gained further exposure in the many departments within the hotel from front office, to housekeeping, reservations, and security, to food and beverage. He was also part of the team who hosted the players during the 2010 Soccer World Cup, as well as hosting the IPL teams when the IPL moved from India to South Africa.
From Southern Sun Newlands, Singh moved to Southern Sun Waterfront where remained for just under 2 years. In 2012 Singh took up the position as Deputy General Manager at the Southern Sun The Cullinan hotel where he was occasionally required to act in the capacity of General Manager.
Seeking new challenges and an opportunity for growth, Singh moved to Johannesburg in January 2016. Here he joined the InterContinental Johannesburg Sandton Towers team as Hotel Manager, gaining experience in working with international travellers and an international brand.
Later in 2016, Singh was then selected to take on the role of General Manager at the new hotel development in Cape Town, under the leadership of Tsogo Sun’s Cape Town Operations Director, John van Rooyen.
Commenting on Singh’s appointment, van Rooyen says “we are thrilled to have Chandreshwar joining our Cape Town team once again. Having extensive experience in running hotel rooms, we feel that he is the perfect fit for this exciting development, right in the heart of Cape Town’s buzzing Bree street precinct.”
Included in the complex will be 5 banqueting and conference facilities, with the largest catering for up to 140 delegates; Tsogo Sun’s trendy and fast growing casual dining offering Vigour & Verve; a rooftop pool and bar with panoramic views; a fitness centre; retail space and approximately 300 undercover parking bays.
The new hotels will form part of Tsogo Sun’s portfolio of over 90 hotels and 14 casino and entertainment destinations in South Africa, Africa, The Seychelles and Abu Dhabi.
