The Department of Tourism officially opened the Atrium Boutique Hotel in Polokwane on August 6. The four-star property is 100 black-owned and majority women-owned with Lesetja Johanna Mukwevho holding 60 of the shareholding. She co-founded the hotel with Matodzi Joseph Mukwevho .
The hotel was developed with funding from multiple government agencies including:
- National Empowerment Fund: R10 million loan US563 800
- Tourism Transformation Fund: R5 million grant US281 900
- Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency: R9.8 million US552 524
- Tourism Equity Fund: R5 million US281 900
Total investment in the development amounted to R31.3 million US1 764 694, which covered construction, furnishing, a solar energy system and six months of operational sustainability. Facilities include 26 luxury rooms, a 100-seater restaurant, 100-seater conference venue, 15-seater boardroom and 10-seater bar. The project has created 16 permanent jobs.
The hotel is aligned with the Polokwane Municipalitys Integrated Development Plan as a catalytic project and aims to address gaps in graded accommodation for the citys mid to high-end tourism market.
Speaking at the launch, South Africas Deputy Minister of Tourism Maggie Sotyu said: The Atrium Boutique Hotel is a fully operational tourism development, highlighting the significant role of women entrepreneurs in fostering economic growth.