South Africa: More than 25% of tenants are not paying rent

• The US hotel giant Marriott, which owns Protea Hotels, will stop operating three of the most iconic hotels in South Africa amid fall-out from the coronavirus pandemic.

• The hotels include the Edward Hotel in Durban, which is more than a century old, and the iconic Mount Grace Country House in the Magaliesburg.

The properties will be handed back to its owner, the Tsogo-owned Hospitality Property Fund.

The US hotel behemoth Marriott has decided to stop operating three hotels in South Africa.

It will withdraw from the Protea Hotel by Marriott Hazyview, Protea Hotel by Marriott Durban Edward and Mount Grace Country House and Spa.

Marriott bought Protea Hotels in 2014 and owns dozens of some of the biggest hotels in South Africa, including Crystal Towers and Breakwater Lodge in Cape Town as well as the Parktonian, Balalaika and African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel in Johannesburg.

“The impact of Covid-19 on the hospitality industry has been unprecedented. Travel restrictions and social distancing efforts around the world have resulted in weaker demand and economic uncertainty,” the company said in a statement.

The company says that it had been forced to take “the difficult decision” due to the financial fall-out of the pandemic. It will hand the hotels back to Tsogo-controlled Hospitality Property Fund, which owns the properties.

The Edward Hotel in Durban is more than a century old, while the Mount Grace in the Magaliesburg was established in 1935.

Business Insider is awaiting a response from Tsogo about the plans for hotels.

This article originally appeared on Business Insider

Photo: Business insider