Icon Villas expands portfolio as Cape Town's private villa booms

Following the increased demand for private villa rentals in Cape Town, Icon Villas has just added another two prime villas to its portfolio. Icon Villas was the first rental company to specialise in the Cape region where it has over the past 28 years, established its niche in prime villas. Twenty of these magnificent private residences are bookable exclusively through Icon Villas only.

Therese Botha, founder of Icon Villas confirms the upward trend and says that they have seen a marked increase in enquiries for multi-generational family travel, as well as groups of friends or corporates travelling together.

‘It is evident that more and more guests have come to recognise and appreciate the advantages of choosing a villa stay, which offers all a hotel does, but even more. This includes privacy, space and flexibility, with conveniences such as dream kitchens for foodies who love entertaining, and gardens with swimming pools, kids’ play areas and outdoor dining areas that suit the South African lifestyle. In fact, in the last year over 60% of all bookings made with Icon Villas were for multi-generational family stays or small groups of friends travelling together. We see this as a major growth area and are actively seeking to expand our portfolio in the market of large, five- or six-bedroom villas’, she says.

Symphony of Light, one of the new Icon Villas, is perfectly suited for extended stays and families travelling with children. Located in a private estate in the heart of Bishopscourt, the stately residence features immaculate, inviting décor and five en-suite bedrooms. Special attractions include a magnificent kitchen and voluminous living areas that include a pyjama lounge, as well as sprawling lawns with a jungle gym and large swimming pool.

Phezulu, the most recent addition to the Icon Villas portfolio, is filled with immersive, luminescent installations, original art, and high-end furniture pieces. A sensual feast with an adventurous use of colour and texture everywhere, the 6-bedroom villa hugs the slopes of Higgovale below Table Mountain, offering endless views and impeccable entertainment areas with easy access to the city attractions.

Therese explains: ‘Since we started Icon Villas, our portfolio has grown and developed into three categories, ranging from our top-end Bespoke Villas which come with bells and whistles, to our luxurious Essential Villas, as well as our intimate Pocket Villas, which are friendly on the pocket.’

Icon Villas currently book around 100 different private villas in the Western-Cape, ranging from, City and Beach villas, to Winelands and Country villas. ‘Although about 85% of our bookings are international, we do have a good number of South African clients booking villas for family celebrations and reunions, or to accommodate friends and family visiting from abroad. Repeat guests form a significant part of our business model. Cape Town events such as the annual Mining Indaba for instance, attract corporates who return year on year, many who prefer the convenience of a spacious, serviced villa suitable to executive meetings and entertaining.’

Icon Villa clients have the option to add on services such as an in-house chef and butlers and have access to a concierge service that provides insider’s tips and bookings for sightseeing excursions, guided tours, restaurants, wine estates and other local experiences.

‘The villas in our portfolio are hand-picked and immaculate and they have a certain pizzazz, each with distinct soul and personality. Our villas are selected for their unique attributes, including a beautiful setting with breath-taking views, great outdoor areas offering a quintessentially African space, and quality finishes, fittings and the freshest linen. We offer a distinct personal touch and essentially deal with experiences, more so than just properties. We are proud to offer villa solutions that build relationships with both long standing, as well as new clients, to find their perfect villa match.’