trump stamps brand on sa property gems 
23 September 2008

The Trump brand of hotels and residential developments will soon be part of the South African scenery, with at least eight projects, including the possibility of a 250 to 300-bed luxury hotel, being considered in the Cape “soon”.   This would be part of a 10-year property deal clinched by local property “visionary” Neill Bernstein and US billionaire business maverick Donald Trump. The joint venture deal covers leisure, golf, hotel and residential condominiums and “condo-hotel” developments in SA and Mauritius. It is expected to create “saleable” real estate worth about R5bn in the first three years.

Bernstein, who 20 years ago launched the first timeshare scheme on the Sea Point beachfront as a 24-year-old and heads the Devland property group, said “sleepy” SA would benefit from global creative thinkers, who could help leverage the country’s property treasures.  Donald Trump Jnr, Trump’s oldest son, has been touring various projects in Gauteng and southern and Western Cape to assess new possibilities. The New York Times described him, his sister Ivanka and brother Eric, as among Trump Snr’s “best apprentices ever”. Donald Trump Jnr, spent time in SA as a college student and was “excited” about doing business on the continent.

One of his most recent projects was the $900m Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago, which featured on The Apprentice reality TV show.   Bernstein said the partnership with the Trump group had several projects in the pipeline, eight in the Cape. They could include a 250 to 300-bed hotel and a boutique hotel.  Trump Jnr said it was important for the Trump group to secure its branding in SA, which related to quality and luxury.

Bernstein said: “The Trump formula translates perfectly across the world and for our projects in SA we are not going to reinvent the wheel.  “Consumers around the world want similar home comforts and the economies of scale make huge sense,” Bernstein said.  While the South African products would be targeted globally, it was expected 70% of the investors would be local and 30% from other markets.

Chris van Gass, www.businessday.co.za