Cape Town is ready for a Virgin rebirth

Summer is here - and the livin' is anything but easy.

Following a winter of discontent and the builders finally shipping out, we have hit the beginning of our season and it's all systems go, until at least May next year.

The opening of our new fourth floor (20 rooms) and conservatory (60 seats) was a huge success. That behind us, the focus switches to the installation of Fidelio - and, yes, the timing could have been better. Unfortunately, software availability dictated that it was now or never and, given the flexibility and adaptability of the system, now seems like the better option.

So far, so good - and the switchover, although probably not seamless, should be fairly painless as the team installing it have been incredibly thorough and professional.

As I mentioned previously, forecasts seem to suggest that this season will be our best yet, and proves that our decision to build the extra rooms was the right one. The rooms are quite spectacular, with views from the east side looking out over the working harbour to Robben Island, Nelson Mandela's prison for 18 years, 13km off the Cities coast. Alternatively, the view from the west side offers the new international yacht basin and, of course, the imposing Table Mountain.

More good news for tourism in Cape Town was the recent announcement that Virgin Atlantic has finally been allocated a slot at Cape Town International Airport from 3 December. It has been trying to secure a London-Cape Town direct route for some time now and the news has been incredibly well received by all of us in the hospitality industry, as consumer demand overseas suggests that more direct flights from London are necessary.

Unfortunately, it has only been allocated one flight per week but, according to the general manager of Virgin in South Africa, McKenzie Grant (another Scot), it hopes to increase this to at least four within the next 18 months. Virgin currently operates seven flights per week into Johannesburg International.

All the guests staying with us at the moment have been treated to some wonderful sights, especially the abundance of whales we are currently enjoying in our bays.

October seemed to be conference month in the Cape and we have had some wonderful organisations and companies staying with us. This is always a big boost for us and, invariably, a few of the delegates return with families and friends, having been bowled over by just how beautiful the Cape is.

EUAN McGLASHAN is general manager of the Cape Grace hotel in Cape Town, South Africa

Next diary from Euan McGlashan: 9 December