Sandton’s Maslow hotel turns 10 - A decade of luxury and simple hospitality
07 March 2023

The unexpected garden oasis of The Maslow has been welcoming guests to Sandton’s financial district for the past decade, and while small details might have changed, it is still focused on doing hospitality simply, but exceptionally.

The 281-room property opened its doors in December 2012 after a R250-million refurbishment, and has had three general managers at the helm – starting with Johan Scheepers, Ashwin Jose and the current incumbent, Herman Swart.

Before transforming into The Maslow, it was the Southern Sun Grayston Hotel, and a Holiday Inn in the 1980’s. The Maslow became Sun International’s first business-centric hotel in their portfolio - a personalised four-star experience which balances work and play.

According to Booking.com, The Maslow has more repeat guests than most other properties. “I loved everything about the hotel, the impeccable service from the staff, the cleanliness of the rooms. It is an amazing place, worth every cent paid,” reads one review on the website, from a South African called Nokwanda.

“It is these types of reviews that we strive for – which motivate our staff to do even better,” said Swart. “We are proud to be tracking above the average occupancy in the Sandton area which has ample rooms available.”

Over the years, prominent guests have included the likes of Nelson Mandela, The Waterboys, The Cure, Bonang, Baby Face, Brian McKnight and various Miss South Africa’s contestants who have stayed during the competition over the years as well as leading soccer and rugby players.

The hotel has hosted events including 702’s Walk the Talk and had 947 broadcasting from the lawn. A 2013 New Year’s Eve party saw close to 1 000 people attending, with DJ Mo G on the decks until 4am.

The hotel’s customer value proposition ensured that each room was designed to meet the needs of travellers, with the best sleep and shower in town.

Swart believes the quality of the Maslow’s guests influence his staff performance. “We have a three-year contract with an airline and our staff love serving them. They have become loyal regulars who bring their favourite waiter or front of house staff member birthday gifts, a motivating factor for the team who love their energy as they hang around the swimming pool or dining areas.”

Swart attributes the many repeat guests to his staff’s interaction with guests, the quality of service as well as the Maslow’s stunning garden environment. “I recently saw one member of staff take R20 out of his own pocket to help a guest pay for their room, and this is just fantastic – to have staff who are so loyal to their product that they will help a customer pay to experience it.”

Swart said guests enjoy taking off their shoes and walking on the lawn under a canopy of big trees, to escape the city’s hustle and bustle for a few moments in a green lung of Sandton.

The pandemic changed travel patterns, with many locals choosing to check-in over the weekends for a staycation. “International travel has returned slowly but is not quite at pre-pandemic levels, and Sun International is working at Group level to grow this.” Conferencing, which Swart expected to be slow to return, instead bounced back fast as businesspeople find value in face-to-face interaction. “As a result, our conferencing venues are sold out weeks in advance.”

“In what is a new trend, we are seeing businessmen staying for periods of up to 30 days. For these guests, who may tire of our menu, we have ‘chef on call.’ They tell our Executive Chef Omar Menhouk what they feel like eating, and it is prepared to their taste.”

Swart chuckled as he recalled another long stay client, who refused to come out of his room for 60 days. “He asked for his fresh linen, laundry and food to be dropped off in front of his room.” Other strange requests (which had to be politely declined) include having a pet dog to stay, and a photo shoot with a cheetah in the gardens.

The Maslow’s Lacuna Bar and Bistro challenges the conventional thinking that hotels are not known for exceptional food. “Our menus are in line with what the Maslow is all about – simple, but quality food.” Chef Menhouk has refreshed the hotel’s dining options, bringing a lighter, fresher fare with on-trend ingredients to the fore.

The Africology Spa at The Maslow is popular with Johannesburg locals and regular guests, who are savvy enough to know to book in advance. One of the most popular treatments is the 90-minute ‘The Maslow Journey’, a bespoke massage and facial which is exclusively available at the hotel. Besides the usual manicures, pedicures, massages and facials, the spa has its own hydrotherapy area, with a Rasul Chamber, steam room, ice walkway and heated pool.

In Swart’s many years with Sun International, The Maslow is the smallest property he has managed, but, he says, the most rewarding to be involved in. “I see myself as the conductor of the team. We have turned things around since the pandemic to become profitable and my team is motivated and happy. It is an honour to represent the Sun International brand in such a competitive environment as Sandton, and for our next decade, we aim to grow occupancy levels to 75% using our excellent customer satisfaction rates as a base.”

The Maslow, Sandton where business meets pleasure

Tranquillity in a concrete jungle – fun facts
Sun International opened The Maslow, its first-and-only business centric hotel, in December 2012 following a R250-million refurbishment.
Inspired by psychologist Abraham Maslow and his well-known hierarchy of needs, The Maslow was named according to the hotel’s approach and service philosophy of understanding customers’ needs.

Located in Johannesburg, the financial powerhouse of South Africa, the 4-star Maslow Hotel is a tranquil oasis in the heart of Sandton City’s bustling concrete jungle.
The proximity of the hotel to the Gautrain with its fast track to OR Tambo airport makes it ideal for travellers. With its state-of-the-art technology, the hotel satisfies every business traveller’s need from the productive Wayfarer business lounge, to physical and virtual conferencing facilities, Wi-Fi and a top end luxury spa to massage away the stresses of the day.

It is also a popular venue with locals for a power business lunch, to unwind with colleagues or friends after work, or to host weddings and other personal celebrations.
The hotel offers ample free parking.

The Maslow’s unique selling point is the fact that that it is the only hotel in Sandton that has a large, lush, natural garden. Guests can step outside into a peaceful green space with established trees, lawn and a beautiful pool deck. Although the hotel is in a suburban environment there is a sense of open space in which visitors can relax – either in the gardens or overlooking them from the pool, or on the Lacuna Bistro and Bar deck.

This green lung makes The Maslow the Central Park of Sandton and enables Sun International to also offer additional activities such as events, conferences, banquets, weddings and picnics, all of which can be held indoors or on the ample lawn outdoors.

The Maslow is no longer one of the grand old ladies of Johannesburg – it is a modern, hip and trendy hotel.

The Hotel

The 281-room hotel is a multi-purpose venue that is ideal for travellers wishing to explore South Africa’s richest square mile, as well as for those needing to conduct business in it.
Ten years ago, the hotel was remodelled with modern and trendy rooms to provide style and functionality, while also ensuring leisure guests are just as comfortable. Each room has been designed to provide the best sleep and best shower in town.

According to Johan Scheepers, the General Manager at the time of the opening, “Attention has been paid to ensure total darkness is achieved in the room, at night and during day time for jet-lagged travellers.”

The average room size is 32 square metres. Of the 281 rooms, 239 are luxury rooms, six family apartments with two inter-leading rooms, four junior suites, 14 luxury suites with balconies, five executive suites with separate bedroom and living room and seven accessible wheelchair friendly rooms.
The unique selling points are the massive showers and sizeable desks with power sockets to recharge cell phones and laptops, in each of the rooms. Complimentary high-speed internet access is available throughout the hotel and makes emailing large files a simple matter.

Conferencing / event venues
Conferencing combines private, uninterrupted meeting rooms with state-of-the-art technology to meet the needs of the modern business executive, as well as the Conference Centre for larger groups for up to 420 people.

The 11 meeting rooms are located away from the Conference Centre and isolated from the hotel for uninterrupted productivity. They are conducive to constructive workshops, strategic thinking and effective team building, and during breaks or lunch, participants have direct access to the hotel’s gardens and lounge area.
· 11 meeting rooms ranging from 24m² to 56m²
· Conference areas, including the auditorium with seating for 50 people, and venues varying in size up to 486m² to accommodate up to 420 people, in the Conference Centre.

Similarly, the ample space is also used for bigger entertainment events, while smaller celebrations such as hen parties, baby showers and engagement parties are popular from within the Lacuna Bar that spills out onto the terrace and lawns.

In 2022, the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa awarded The Maslow Sandton Conference Centre with a four-star grading in the Venues category.

Fine dining
Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg’s frenetic pace, one surrenders to serenity when you step into Lacuna Bistro and Bar overlooking the luscious lawns.
Lacuna Bistro, to the right as you step into the hotel foyer, caters breakfast, lunch and dinner for guests staying over as well as visitors popping in for a business lunch or quick bite to eat.

Sip a signature cocktail or cognac at the Lacuna Bar, and listen to the birds chirping as the sun begins to set.
Both the bistro and the bar, as well as room service, have recently had their menus refined and refreshed by executive chef, Omar Menhouk and his team, just in time for the ten-year celebration.

While familiar favourites like the Durban chicken curry and meat platter remain to please regular guests, with the new dishes Menhouk has tapped into his Algerian heritage, his work across the African continent and the influence of global cuisine such as French and Italian to create a menu with international flair.

For the full dining and cocktail menus, visit the website – click here.

The Maslow’s facilities include:
· The Lacuna Urban Bistro restaurant and a glass enclosed private dining room is available for a maximum of 20 people
· The Lacuna Bar
· Wayfarer Lounge - a complimentary transit lounge
· Business Centre
· Concierge desk for all travel needs, ranging from airport transfers to day excursions with a tour guide
· Beautiful oasis gardens with terraced seating.
· 24-hour gym
· Outdoor pool
· Africology Spa – an award-winning spa, all products and treatments are natural, holistic and eco-friendly

Rediscover Joburg

Although The Maslow is located in Africa’s richest business node, the area is an important urban tourist destination as well.
Johannesburg offers many unique activities for visitors. Where in the world can you travel down a goldmine, visit the Apartheid museum, the stock exchange and a lion park, all on one day? And attractions like Vilakazi Street in Soweto are cultural gold – these are unique and authentic manifestations of true South African culture. Or simply hop on a Red Bus for a tour of the sights and sounds of Johannesburg. Similarly, Sandton is also the gateway stopover to attractions such as the Kruger Park or Sun City.
Read: Propert24.com “Sandton's new hotel: The Maslow” (07 December 2012) https://www.property24.com/articles/sandtons-new-hotel-the-maslow/16775

Let’s hear from employees who have been at The Maslow since the beginning and other employees who joined along the way

Bronwyn Nel, Sun International, Sales Manager: Corporate: 2008 to date

The refurbishment ahead of opening: The building’s interior was completed gutted and rebuilt – what we see now as meeting rooms and conference areas on the ground, used to be hotel rooms. The company embarked on research efforts to find out what our future clients and what the existing clients of the old Grayston Hotel were looking for and something that came out was that female business women wouldn’t stay on the ground floor for safety reasons. Those needs were taken into consideration and the changes are evident today. This property used to be dark and closed up, less inviting, but after the facelift it looked completely transformed and lighter. The insights we received from our clients allowed us to design a product that would cater to our guests needs when staying with us.

Unique Selling Point: The Wayfarer lounge is such a nice feature of the hotel, something that does not exist at our competitors. It’s a lounge that allows guests a quiet space to work and freshen up if they need to while they wait for their room, pre-check-in.

The Maslow provides personalised service and pays attention to guests needs. One example being, we had a guest with back issues and we were able to source specialised gym equipment for her, which has had a lasting effect on her and her loyalty to the hotel. At the end of the day, a bed is a bed, but The Maslow goes above and beyond to create lasting memories.

Wendy Futcher - Sales Manager Entertainment & Events Lifestyle: 2006 – 2007 (break in service) 2008 – to date

With the opening of The Maslow hotel in Sandton, we finally had a “Joburg home” which we never had before and it was quite exciting and amazing to be able to host events from for the first time – including hosting Miss SA contestants over the years.

The Maslow’s trees near the bar and restaurant mean it is the hotel of choice for birds. The birdlife at dusk, when they returned to their nests, are a sight (and sound) to behold. Thousands of birds fly out every morning and return every evening, chirping all the way.

Thanda Siloane - Banqueting Manager / Acting floor Manager: November 2012 to date

Leading up to the opening: It was hard work because the hotel was still under construction. We started from scratch with everything – the restaurant menu, staff trainings and meetings, outsourcing suppliers, trucks in and out with furniture and other collateral and equipment. We worked long hours with everyone collaborating together, no matter what their position actually was. There was massive excitement leading up to the opening of the Sandton hotel under the Sun International umbrella. Johan Scheepers was an amazing opening General Manager, he would clean and participate with us staff, he was very energetic and paid a lot attention to detail with a strong hospitality background.
Takeaway: The benefits of working at The Maslow and for Sun International are incomparable. There have been plenty of growth opportunities for me, where I started out as a supervisor in 2012, and moved my way around to restaurant manager, banqueting manager and more recently acting floor manager as of end 2022.

The company has supported my outside work passion – running, where I have also completed the Comrades, sponsored by the hotel and company.
I love The Maslow and I love the people I work with. No other company could match the happiness I have here.

Lloyd Livingstone-Blevins, Assistant Food and Beverage Manager: September 2013 to date

When I started, the energy was high paced and very busy, we were permanently full with exciting events – much like today. The first time I walked into The Maslow hotel, I remember being blown away by the stunning flower arrangements – they just jump at you. I had four interviews in a week before being appointed, and was excited to join this amazing brand. I have worked under all three of the General Manager’s at The Maslow and each brought their own set of valuable skills and expertise which continue to make it a well-run hotel.

Fresh new menu for Maslow as Sandton hotel marks first decade of operation

It’s been a decade since the beautiful Maslow hotel in Sandton opened its doors to welcome guests to what remains a tranquil garden environment in the midst of the country’s biggest financial district.

As part of its 10-year celebrations, the hotel’s dining options for the Lacuna Bistro, Bar and room service have enjoyed a refresh, with Executive Chef Omar Menhouk and his kitchen teams working for months to refine new dishes.

Lacuna Bistro

While familiar favourites like the Durban chicken curry and meat platter remain to please regular guests, Menhouk has tapped into his Algerian heritage, the countries he has worked in across the African continent and the influence of global cuisine such as French and Italian to create a menu with international flair.
“South Africans are spoilt for choice when they eat out – chefs here are encouraged to be able to cook everything so that you can deliver to every taste,” Menhouk said.

“We have something for every member of the family, from our new children’s menu to vegan and vegetarian options, a full steak house offering, seafood and tapas.” While one international guest ate the Moroccan lamb shank tagine every night for a week during his stay, the menu also caters for those spoiling themselves within the confines of a budget, with wallet-friendly pastas and salads, and burgers during the day.

Moroccan lamb shank tagine

The dishes are crammed with fresh vegetables and herbs, with an emphasis on healthier eating, Menhouk explained. Think herbed quinoa and chickpea salad with a lemon-tahini dressing, marinated Algerian-style king prawns served with steamed rice, tomato relish and a garlic, herb, and mint sauce or a Mediterranean vegetable stew with chickpeas, eggplant, yellow, green bell pepper, onions, butternut, zucchinis, tomato, beans, and herbs.

A selection of six cuts of meat are cooked on a specially imported Josper oven that gives a unique flavour by cooking over charcoal embers. “We have introduced four new sauces – béarnaise, harissa, chimichurri and Café du Paris which are a refreshing modern take for those tired of the standard mushroom, pepper and red wine jus.”

Try the crispy Lebanese Chicken, marinated in seven herbs and cooked in the Josper, served with slaw and new potatoes, or a pasta dish such as creamy fricassee of gnocchi and penne or fettuccine with a choice of sauces from Pomodoro, creamy garlic, ragu bolognese and parmesan Reggiano.

Lebanese Chicken

If you’re someone who enjoys sharing, try the trio of Maslow desserts, selected daily by the chef, or tuck into an almost-flourless chocolate cake, baklava with pistachio nut filling, or – Chef Menhouk’s favourite – a scoop of artisan ice-cream especially flown in from Cape Town in a range of flavours including Ferro Roche and ginger shortbread.

The trio of Maslow desserts

The menu has several dishes that can be made without animal products and Menhouk advised guests to inform their waiter on arrival.
“Together with my four sous chefs, I will be taking note of our guest feedback and aligning the menu to what we are hearing from the dining room floor.”

The Lacuna Bar menu has also had an overhaul, while retaining the best-sellers so popular with guests who come to watch a sports game. The options include falafel, hummus, spicy vegetable or meat samosas, sweet and sticky sesame chicken wings, jalapeño rissoles and a Mediterranean meze for two. There are also sandwiches, sliders and ribs.
The four-star hotel offers conference and meeting facilities, and is a popular wedding and baby shower destination, boasting an on-site spa and swimming pool set in manicured gardens.

For the full dining and cocktail menus, visit the website – click here.

Follow The Maslow Hotel for news updates:
Facebook:@TheMaslowSandton
Twitter:@themaslowhotel
Instagram:suninternationalza