JSE-listed City Lodge Hotels group on Tuesday said it had begun developing two new hotels – Road Lodge Southgate and Road Lodge Bloemfontein Airport – at a total cost of R71 million.

Road Lodge Southgate, adjacent to the Southgate Mall in southern Johannesburg, will have 118 rooms at a total development cost of R43 million.

Road Lodge Bloemfontein Airport will have 66 rooms at a development cost of R28 million. Both hotels are expected to open at the end of May 2010.

Other group hotels currently being developed include: City Lodge OR Tambo Airport (303 rooms), City Lodge Fourways (211 rooms), City Lodge Lynnwood (205 rooms), City Lodge Hatfield (187 rooms), Town Lodge Port Elizabeth (204 rooms) and Road Lodge Port Elizabeth Airport (90 rooms), according to City Lodge.

Road Lodge Southgate will be the group's first hotel in southern Johannesburg while Road Lodge Bloemfontein Airport will be the group's second hotel in Free State province, the group said.

"We are optimistic about the prospects for both of these new hotels as they are being developed in areas where there is a definite need for quality, budget accommodation," said Clifford Ross, City Lodge Hotels' chief executive.

Source: I-Net Bridge