Angola’s first five-star hotel raises the hospitality bar

The exceptionally chic Talatona Convention Hotel (HCTA, or Hotel de Convençoes de Talatona) opened its doors in December 2009 and was commended by the government at its inauguration as an asset to the development of the hospitality business and tourism sector in Angola.

Located in the new and rapidly developing suburb of Luanda Sul, the modern hotel is set within a secure complex that incorporates the Talatona Convention Center and forms part of the ongoing transformation of Talatona into the most sought-after neighborhood in the capital for both business and leisure.

Lush gardens welcome visitors to a sophisticated oasis of high-end service and style. “We are the first five-star hotel in Angola. There is a definite demand for an upmarket hotel here,” says Ricardo Dias, general manager of HCTA. “We have gone to great lengths to meet the standards of service that this classification suggests. We provide service, five-star service with efficiency and a smile.”

Owned by Sonangol, managed by Dreams Leisure and affiliated with Preferred Hotels, the wholly Angolan company has gone to great lengths to ensure its quality standards surpass the most exacting international expectations. “As an affiliated member of Preferred Hotels, we have managed to achieve a quality level of service, which they require before they can accept us as an affiliated member. This provides a quality guarantee to our customers,” says Mr. Dias.

Indeed, members of the select Preferred Hotels and Resorts portfolio are not merely gateways to the world’s most desirable places, but are also held as distinguished destinations in their own right, being iconic landmarks that continually redefine the benchmark of luxury in the hospitality sector around the world.

“Our service is known already for being the best in Angola. We have had very positive comments from guests that have traveled all over the world,” says Mr. Dias.

HCTA offers guests a choice of 201 rooms, including 21 suites and 20 private villas, each equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. The hotel puts a host of amenities at the disposal of its guests, including an outdoor pool, tennis court, fitness center, spa, beauty salon, shopping area and a heliport. Furthermore it boasts exceptional dining facilities. “We have various restaurants for our guests but we also have two restaurants open to the public. Sabores do Mussolu offers a more relaxed environment and has the advantage of having the courtyard so you can eat outside. Upstairs we have La Piazza del Forno, a restaurant with Italian flavors, which is very unique,” says Mr. Dias.

“We set up a kid’s club, which is also unique for Angola. When adults come and eat on Sundays, they can have their children supervised while they enjoy a relaxing meal,” he adds.

For business travelers, the resort offers 12 meeting rooms featuring the latest in conference facilities.

Mr. Dias says, “We need to ensure that our corporate guests have everything they need for their business needs. We have our own satellite, three internet providers and two cable providers. We are also inside a very safe complex and guests relax with a feeling of safety. They can also feel free to be outside. They can leave the hotel and not be on a busy street. We have a 1.3km jogging circuit around the complex. This is a huge difference between what we can offer and what our competitors can offer.”