CITY Lodge Hotels has completed a full refurbishment of Courtyard Hotel Gqeberha, the latest in a series of property upgrades the company has rolled out over the past few years as it continues to reinvest in its portfolio of 56 hotels.
The refurbishment marks the next step in the evolution of this four-star seafront hotel, bringing a design-led elegance that strengthens its appeal to business, leisure and bleisure travellers. Work began in July 2025 and wrapped up in April 2026, followed by a couple of months of snagging, all overseen by the hotel’s general manager, Erich Oberhauser.
Located along the coastline with spectacular views across Algoa Bay, and with Shark Rock Pier forming part of its distinctive seaside outlook, the hotel’s new look is built around the colours of the landscape, particularly those moments when the setting sun turns the horizon into shades of pink and coral against a deep blue sky.
The redesign of the hotel, restaurant, 91 rooms comprising 80 studios and 11 one-bedroom suites, conferencing rooms and a boardroom, draws on the property’s beachfront setting. Coral accents bring warmth, custom rugs in deep blue and sandy tones ground the rooms, and rich timber finishes add another layer of comfort, creating calm, cocooning spaces.
“Today’s guest seeks an experience that feels individual, immersive and connected to its surroundings,” explains Louise Nogueira Dracopoulos of Oniro Studios, the group’s interior designer. “Rather than interpreting the ocean literally, these colours and contrasts became the foundation for the interior palette.”
Entering the hotel, guests are welcomed through the lobby beneath stylised, marine-inspired ceiling murals, with the eye drawn straight through to a large arched window framing the ocean beyond. The reception area has been redesigned to feel welcoming rather than formal, while a new co-working lounge, anchored by a fireplace and lined with timber shelving, offers guests a quieter alternative to a conventional business centre. The hotel kept ship models that have been part of the hotel for many years and gave them a new home within the shelving, tying the property’s history to its new maritime-inspired interior.
The sunken lounge and newly created bar form the social heart of the ground floor, positioned to make the most of the hotel’s ocean outlook. Custom hand-painted murals by artist Nikhil Tricam, created on tiled panels and inspired by maritime history, old ships and nautical elements, tie back to the ship models on display in the co-working lounge.
The restaurant, now renamed 25° East, has also been completely redesigned, with a new double banquette creating a central feature and more intimate seating, while the cold buffet and cookout areas are now part of the guest experience. Conferencing and boardroom facilities have been upgraded for greater flexibility, carrying the same ocean blues, ochre accents and warm wood through into the hotel’s business spaces.
The conferencing and meeting space consists of three rooms – Anchor (up to 10 pax), Compass (up to 50 pax), Latitude (up to 80 pax) – with the combined commercial area able to accommodate up to 120 delegates cocktail style.
“We are delighted that the big day has finally arrived when we can reveal all the work that’s been going on behind the scenes to the residents of Gqeberha, our valued guests, and the tourism industry,” says Oberhauser. “This has been a long process but worth it for the elegant and contemporary look and feel that the hotel is now taking into the future.”
