In 2013, both the Century City Conference Centre and Century City Hotel were first conceptualised by the Rabie Property Group to complement the fast developments within Cape Town’s newest and most vibrant precinct, Century City.
The intention behind these properties was to bring a world-class venue, along with additional hotel rooms, to Century City, thereby driving both local and international foot traffic into the precinct.
To spearhead the development of these exciting new offerings, they enlisted the services of experienced hoteliers Gary Koetser and Glyn Taylor to form part of the design team and give guidance on all aspects of the hospitality offerings.
During the construction phase, Gary and Glyn’s roles organically grew into those of joint CEOs of the conference centre and hotel, soon to become Cape Town’s leading conference centre.
Fast forward seven years and the Century City Conference Centre has been successful despite having to weather economic and political struggles, droughts, and a devastating global pandemic. Against all odds, the strong business relationships built by the team and the world-class offering allowed the conference centre and hotel to go from strength to strength.
This was a testament to not only the unsurpassed number of return clients but also the various awards won, including Africa’s Most Sustainable Venue of the Year, Best Large Hotel Conference Venue in South Africa, and SAACI’s Member’s Choice Award for Best Venue of the Year.
In 2018, the Rabie Property Group launched Oasis Life Retirement Estates, which has seen immense success as a hospitality-based retirement offering as part of Gary and Glyn’s portfolio.
Over the past two years, as the Conference Centre has bounced back and demand has increased in retirement estates, both brands have eagerly welcomed the addition of new properties to their portfolios.
With several new estates in development for Oasis Life, the need for separate strategy and management has become apparent. Therefore, the decision has been made to split the focus between Gary and Glyn in order to offer each brand the attention it requires.
As of April 2023, Glyn Taylor will focus his energies on growing the Oasis Life Portfolio as CEO, while Gary Koetser will continue to steer the hospitality offering of Rabie Property Group as CEO of the Century City Conference Centre and Hotels.
‘As much as it is sad for this era to come to an end, the prospects of the future are exciting for everyone and both businesses involved. I would like to thank Glyn for his contribution to the success of Century City Conference Centre and Hotels,’ said Leon Cohen, CEO of Rabie Property Group.
‘This is indeed a significant change and a new era for Century City Conference Centre and Hotels. With our talented team and the ongoing support of Rabie Property Group, I am confident we will reach new heights and further solidify our market position as we continue to create value for our guests and stakeholders,’ said Gary Koetser.
‘Stepping into the leadership role at Oasis Life presents a thrilling opportunity to leverage our unique strengths and drive targeted growth. I am committed to growing Oasis Life into South Africa’s leading retirement brand,’ said Glyn Taylor
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