In celebration of its 115 years as an iconic hotel, Cape Town's deluxe Vineyard Hotel & Spa has added a new - and very special - wing to this grand establishment.
Forty-one brand new and stylish en-suite rooms are now open for guests, four of these being especially comfortable for guests in wheelchairs or with special needs.
Vineyard Hotel & Spa general manager - Roy Davies, says all the new courtyard luxury rooms have been designed to easily accommodate wheelchairs in both the rooms and bathrooms. "The first guest to ever occupy one of the courtyard luxury rooms was quadriplegic, and he was pleasantly surprised how comfortable it was for him.
"There is plenty of room for easy movement, and facilities and grip rails have been sensitively designed to double as towel rails when necessary," says Davies, "and bathroom fittings, such as taps and basins, are convenient and accessible too.
"With the introduction of these rooms, guests don't need all the usual equipment necessary for a thoroughly enjoyable holiday getaway."
The courtyard luxury rooms all have wooden floors to enable effortless movement, and some have easily accessible balconies.
From here, guests can enjoy views over the courtyard gardens, replete with birdlife, soothing fountains and streams. Renowned Franschhoek horticulturalist, Ann Sutton, especially designed the sweeping gardens to ensure tranquillity and restfulness.
The new wing comprises of 32 deluxe rooms, four courtyard luxury rooms, two sets of inter-leading courtyard deluxe rooms for families, and the Kitty Suite which has stunning views of Rhodes Memorial, the University of Cape Town and Devil's Peak- in honour of Mrs Kittty Petousis who is matriarch and co-owner of the hotel. The Vineyard Hotel & Spa can now offer guests a choice of 207 rooms and suites.
Additional parking has also been added during the extension process, and there are 85 new parking bays for guests. A sky bridge will soon be opened to link the new wing to the hotel - replete with a rooftop and water-wise garden to admire.