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This four star resort conveniently situated at the gateway to the Skeleton
Coast, earned it's stars within months of opening. Meticulously renovated and
restored to it's former glory, the historic Old Station Building came to life
again on 10 December 1994.
Within weeks of opening, the Hotel walked off with the highest accolade in the
hospitality industry when it was voted the "Best Hotel in
Namibia for 1994/1995". True to the standard set by the management and
staff during the first year, The Swakopmund Hotel was again voted the "Best
Hotel in Namibia for 1995/1996".
Dedication to making your stay at The Swakopmund Hotel & Entertainment
Centre a memorable one that keeps you coming back for more, is what this resort
is all about.
Together with the quiet charm of the coastal town of Swakopmund, the stark
contrast between sea and desert and the haunting open spaces, this resort has
something to offer to even the most discerning or jaded international traveler.
The
Hotel has enjoyed an inaugural year in 1995 and among others has hosted 85 of
the world's most beautiful women in the lead up to the 1995 Miss Universe
Pageant held in Namibia in May.
Presidents, Prime Minister, Business Leaders, Celebrities, Local and
International Television Crews, Worldwide Product Launches and Major
International Conferences, have all had a part to play in this enfolding
chapter.
This luxury resort caters for all your needs. From the 90 spacious
rooms and two sumptuous Presidential suites to the warm and inviting Platform
One Restaurant as well as the seafood restaurant The
Captain's Tavern, the Hotel combines traditional Namibian hospitality with
service excellence.
Namibia's premier resort offers two restaurants and world class gambling in the
state of the art Mermaid Casino with its tempting
progressive jackpots. World class gaming is offered in the splendid Mermaid
Casino. Roulette, Blackjack, Poker and Punto Banco are on offer, plus 250 of
your favorite slot and poker machines. The resort has an Entertainment Centre,
complete with cinema, video arcade with the latest games, speciality shopping
and a Gymnasium.
The Swakopmund Hotel & Entertainment Centre has found a lucrative niche in
the conference market and accommodates up to 350 delegates with ease in the
Spitzkoppe Conference Centre. And if you want something a little different this
year, opt for that once in a lifetime experience conference in the desert! Major
product launches and many productive hours have been spent in this venue. Two
spacious courtyards are available for display or outdoor launches.
Over and above these facilities, tennis courts, horse and camel riding
excursions, the Rossmund Golf course, one of only five desert golf courses in
the world, Quad biking and Dune boarding are
just some of the services on offer at The Swakopmund Hotel & Entertainment
Centre. Where the Skeleton Coast Comes To Life!
SWAKOPMUND
STATION BUILDING HISTORY
The
erection of the station building in the late 19th century, a striking example of
German architecture, was finalised on 25 October 1900 by means of a contract
between the "Kaiser Eisenbahnverwaltung" and the "Swakopmunder
Handelsgesellschaffi.
Construction work started in January 1901 and in October the same year the
building was completed and commissioned.
Designed by C. Schmidt, the Station building is decidedly the most impressive
of Swakopmund old buildings. The tower, however, for which it is so well known,
was added later as an afterthought (Architect W. Sander). From 1907 to 1910 when
Swakopmund had two railway companies competition was so fierce that in 1910 the
station was closed down for a while. For those travelling by train it meant that
luggage was collected at one's home. There was a network of trams all over
Swakopmund and mule drawn trolleys could be seen transporting loads of people
baggage and other goods. This was done by "Troosche Maultierbahn".
The station was declared a National Monument in 1972.
CURRENT
USAGE
In
about September 1990 TransNamib approached International Consulting Architects (ICA)
‑then Theunissen Jankowitz SWA Inc. to investigate all possible avenues of
development of existing Swakopmund Station Building and surroundings. The
concern at that time was that reductions in passenger services to the region,
the building was under utilized and entering advanced state of neglect.
After exploring various options, including a museum, tourist information centre
and business premises, it was clear that the only viable alternative was to
redevelop the whole site into an hotel facility incorporating the existing
building into the development. The first sketch proposals and viable studies
were presented to TransNamib in November 1990.
In January 1991, TransNamib requested ICA to investigate and, if possible,
suggest potential joint venture partners from not only a financial aspect, but
more specifically with hotel development operating experience. In March 1991 ICA
introduced the Stocks Leisure Group to TransNamib potential co-developers.
In the period between March 1991 and April 1992, various meetings and planning
sessions t place in order to finalize the scope of the project together with
numerous preliminary designs March 1992, a pressure group from the Namibian
Institute of Architects coerced TransNamib calling for an open competition after
ICA were adjudicated the winners in September 1992. During the following period
ICA researched an produced two documents namely "The Namibian Tour Strategy
One and Two" which suggested Swakopmund as the first of Namibia's proposed
Tourism facilities.
Finally in February 1994 a joint development agreement was reached between
Stocks Leisure Namibia and TransNamib which has now culminated in the Swakopmund
Hotel and Entertainment Centre development.
The architects for the development were Allan Marais and Associates and the
interior design done by Lionel Levin and Associates. Stocks& Stocks Namibia
was the building contractor.
His Excellency, President of Namibia, Dr. Sam Nujoma officially opened the
Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre on 10 December 1994.
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