Cape Town University to run as hotel during world cup.

cape town University

One of Africa’s premier universities, the University of Cape Town (UCT) will soon be opening its doors as the continent’s largest accommodation hub in time for the Soccer World Cup 2010 kick-off.

The highly-ranked research university is the only African university that is consistently listed among the world’s top 200 universities. Its reputation for excellence extends to its many residences which, from June 9 to July 13, 2010, will accommodate thousands of visitors to Cape Town – South Africa’s so-called “Mother City” and the continent’s top tourist destination.

Head of UCT’s 2010 task team, Professor John Simpson said UCT and its residence infrastructure were ideally placed to provide comfortable, affordable and secure accommodation to visitors from Africa and further afield over the six weeks that the Soccer World Cup tournament will be held.

“We are fortunate at the University of Cape Town to have a campus which boasts unsurpassed scenic beauty and world-class residence and leisure facilities. In addition to that the University is situated close to the heart of Cape Town’s city centre and has long played an integral part of the city’s history and heritage,” said Simpson.

“We will be able to offer visitors an opportunity to enjoy a fun and relaxing World Cup experience by giving  them access to the University’s extensive shuttle system which will ferry UCT guests between UCT and the airport, World Cup fixtures, as well as to its prime entertainment and shopping districts,” said Simpson.

“As a signatory to Cape Town Tourism’s Tourism Code of Responsible Pricing, UCT firmly believes in the Code’s principles of fostering visitor confidence in our city through providing accommodation that offers excellent value at fair prices at our University,” Simpson added.

UCT and its residences are 10kms from the centre of Cape Town and only 15km from the Cape Town Soccer Stadium – the city’s recently completed, state-of-the-art sports stadium which was constructed in time to host several of Africa’s first World Cup matches.

UCT’s already comprehensive campus security system will be beefed up during this peak period, with the engagement of additional security personnel and residence monitoring marshals. Guests will have unlimited access to several on-campus facilities including a fully-equipped gym, a major theatre complex, a number of pubs and restaurants, a FIFA-accredited artificial soccer pitch, as well as conveniently placed foreign exchange and ATM facilities.

Aside from the fun and excitement of the World Cup matches and events, visitors can enjoy all the city’s top attractions including Table Mountain, Cape Point and Robben Island, and the Cape Winelands. Fans of the great outdoors can look forward to numerous adventures, including shark diving, whale watching, mountain climbing, surfing and many other activities.

Helping the university make the transition from academic institution to accommodation hub, is one of South Africa’s top hotel management companies, Urban Hip Hotels – who will also be marketing and managing accommodation at the Universities of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal.

Visit www.campus2010.co.za to find out more about the University of Cape Town’s Campus Accommodation 2010.

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Campus Accommodation 2010 Fact Sheet*

Affordable – single rooms start at R550 per room per night excluding VAT. (Terms and conditions apply.)

Security – on campus security patrols, campus monitoring by CCTV and monitoring marshals. 

Transport – 35 x 40-seater busses to and from all residences, airport and match day transfers, as well as the V&A Waterfront and local shopping centers.

Meals – all meals are available on campus or in the nearby suburb of Rondebosch, including a limited room service.

Viewing facilities – access to TV lounges to watch live and recorded games.

Free access to - gym, swimming pool, sports fields, including the all-weather football pitch (subject to availability)

General shopping – banks, doctors, supermarkets, taxi cabs and much more, all within walking distance in Rondebosch.

*While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all information, these are subject to changing circumstances.

For more information about Campus Accommodation 2010 visit www.uct.ac.za

or please contact:

Jackie Ardinois at, +27 11 861 226 787, res@campus2010.co.za 

Celeste Gaskin +27 21 591 1260 or 0765517125, celeste@tuskevents.co.za

Issued by Chris Mitchell, CPR Communications:

chrismitchell@vodamail.co.za  cell: 082-497-8440

For further information please contact:

Ray Hartle 

UCT Media Manager

Tel: (021) 650 5674  Fax (021) 650 5628

Cell: 083 4100312

E-mail: Ray.Hartle@uct.ac.za

Patricia Lucas

UCT Media Liaison Officer

Tel: (021) 650 5428 Fax (021) 650 5628

Cell:  076 292 8047    

E-mail: Pat.Lucas@uct.ac.za