The superb facilities of the Saxon

RELATED LINKS: Saxon wins world boutique hotel award, again THE Saxon in Sandhurst has scooped the world's top award in the boutique hotel category, at a ceremony in New York, for the third time. Read more The Saxon: Where ex-prisoner Mandela stayed THE Saxon markets itself as the place where former president Nelson Mandela edited Long Walk to Freedom, but it wasn't a hotel in those days - it was the palatial home of insurance magnate Douw Steyn. Read more Hotels in the city JOHANNESBURG offers a wide range of options to suit all pockets and requirements, ranging from the super luxury to the standard en suite room. Proximity to the airport is often an important factor and most are within easy access to a freeway running to the airport. Read more

The fronthall at the Saxon hotel

Saxon wins award, again JOBURG can boast having the best boutique hotel on the planet. The Saxon in Sandhurst came top in its category at the World Tourism Awards. January 6, 2006 By Tammy O'Reilly THE plushest boutique hotel in the world can be found right here in Johannesburg. The Saxon, located in the elite suburb of Sandhurst, triumphed at the World Tourism Awards towards the end of last year. It officially earned its name as the World's Leading Boutique Hotel - the kind of hotel that has fewer suites, but each suite has full facilities like a lounge and kitchen. Dubbed the "Oscars of Tourism" the awards have taken place for the past 12 years, honouring the best accommodation and destinations on offer globally. A total of 156 000 travel agencies and professionals in over 140 countries voted for their leading travel destinations, airlines, hotels and companies. Although the hotel only opened its doors to the public in 2000, it has won the award four times. This time round the Saxon beat Le Soleil Hotel and Suites in Vancouver, the Sunset Marquis Hotel and Villas in California, Australia's Royce Hotel, the Metropolitan of London and the Delano in Miami. The hotel has 26 suites - each complete with large screen televisions and workstations fitted with features like fax and Internet lines, catering for the business traveller. The elite suites feature separate lounge and dining room areas and can accommodate up to 50 quests for a cocktail function. The hotel also boasts a piano room, smoking lounge, world-class chefs and conference facilities with an auditorium. But the Saxon is not only renown for its opulence. Before owner Douw Steyn converted his home into a hotel, Nelson Mandela spent six months here on his release from Robben Island. The room he occupied is now called the Mandela Suite. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za