Background
The 4-star Maslow Hotel is Sun International’s business travel-focused brand that the group plans to roll out elsewhere, should it be successful in Johannesburg. Sun International spent R250-million refurbishing what was the formally known as The Grayston. The hotel opened in January.
Where is it?
On the corner of Rivonia Road and Grayston Drive. Great if you’re doing business in Sandton, as there are a host of big corporates in the area, whilst the M1 highway is about a kilometre away. The trip to O.R. Tambo International Airport will take you approximately 25 minutes, depending on traffic. The local Gautrain station is about 10 minutes’ walk away, as is Sandton City shopping mall.
Room Facilities
I had heard some critics say that the rooms were small, and whilst mine wasn’t ‘large’ by any stretch of the imagination, I found it more than adequate. According to Sun International, the average room size is 32m² and the 281 rooms are made up of 239 rooms, six family apartments with two inter-leading rooms, four junior suites, 14 suites with balconies, five executive suites with separate bedroom and living room, and seven wheelchair-accessible rooms. I had a queen-size bed, whilst all the fittings were clearly geared towards creating a business/corporate-type feel – dark colour tones (blacks and greys), slick-looking 40-inch flat-screen TV, coffee machine, comfortable work desk (with a range of sockets), chic light fittings and a pristine bathroom consisting of bath, shower, toilet and basin. My only criticism – the bathroom is designed with the shower – which has a fantastic rain shower head – opening onto the toilet, which is not something I’m a fan of. What I did like was the blacked-out curtains and the complimentary Wi-Fi.
Meeting & Business Facilities
This is where Sun International hopes to make some serious inroads into the Sandton market. The Maslow’s offering consists of 13 meeting rooms, a conference centre with a multi-divisible ballroom and auditorium. State-of-the-art technology is a given, but The Maslow is hoping that its numerous meeting options will result in big groups booking with them. It can accommodate events for up to 650 people and Wi-Fi is complimentary throughout the hotel. If you have some time to kill, the Wayfarer Lounge is a Business Class-type lounge, which has been designed to enable guests to be productive while waiting to check in or depart for the airport. It is stocked with food and drink, magazines, a flat-screen TV and shower.
Leisure Facilities
The hotel has an Africology spa offering a range of treatments, as well as an ice walkway, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, whilst there’s an outside swimming pool and a 24-hour in-house gym.
Restaurants & Bars
The Lacuna Bistro and Bar is where it all happens at The Maslow, and using the Friday night I was there as a yardstick, there appears to be plenty of that, with loads of non-hotel guests making use of the outside terrace and live DJ. You can start your day with an a la carte breakfast and barista-made coffee, whilst lunch time sees food such as tapas, sandwiches, tarts, salads and pasta dishes served. Our dinner consisted of finger snacks, but they were delicious, with samples of mini lamb burgers, crostini etc. The social area extends into the lobby, where I can see many business meetings taking place over a cappuccino or two.
Verdict
Some of the service was a little slow, but otherwise, the food was excellent, the location is superb and the rooms are nicely suited to corporate stays. There’s all you need for an uncomplicated and comfortable business trip.
Dylan Rogers
Contact
Address: Cnr Grayston Drive and Rivonia Road, Sandton
Tel: +27 10 226 4600, suninternational.com