According to businessman Jaime Freitas, from Feel Afrika, the hotel, which has already undergone rehabilitation works, is scheduled to open on July 15, and around 100 newly hired people are currently being trained.
Opened in 2009, the HCTA represented, at the time, an investment of US$200 million and was the first five-star hotel in Angola.
It was one of the assets that the oil company Sonangol decided to sell, within the scope of the government's Privatization Program, initially through a sale, but later opting for a concession for a period of five years, with a purchase option.
According to the website of the Instituto de Gestão de Astivos e Participações do Estado (IGAPE), the value awarded to the consortium, which will be the reference price for the purchase option, was 17.8 billion kwanzas.
Jaime Freitas said that the consortium had made a commitment to invest US$10 million, of which more than US$1 million had already been spent on recovery works and equipment, taking into account that the building was vacant.
The businessman underlined that the partnership with Teixeira Duarte (owner of three hotels in Angola, through TD Hotels) was decisive, both because of the experience that the group already has in the hotel industry and in construction, allowing the works to be carried out in a short period of time. of time.
"I am one of the people most connected to the hotel industry in Angola and I believe that a partnership has been established that can be complemented and can continue with other projects", he underlined.
The consortium also won the tenders for the concession of Infotur hotels (Instituto de Fomento Turístico) in the provinces of Huíla and Namibe, which will also be the subject of phased rehabilitation works.
Asked if he is available to exercise the option to purchase the HCTA when the term expires, Jaime Freitas stressed that he will do the due analysis in economic terms, but admits that it is a strong possibility.
The contract for the assignment of exploration and management rights provides for the payment of a fixed rent and a variable rent, depending on the invoicing, to Sonangol, the amounts of which were not disclosed.
Lusa also sought to hear from Teixeira Duarte and Sonangol about the project, with no response so far.
