Samuel Foyou: the man behind the new Krystal Beach Hotel
ShowMe Helderberg takes a look at the man behind the 4-star Krystal Beach Hotel, which is setting Gordon’s Bay abuzz ahead of its launch on April 30th..
The driving force behind the multi-million Rand renovations of the Villa Via Hotel in Harbour Island is Samuel Foyou, a Cameroonian billionaire. He was born in the western provincial town of Batié in 1958, and while not much is known of his private life (with an article in Jeune Afrique describing him as notoriously “discreet”), Foyou is definitely not shy when it comes to imposing himself on the business world.
Foyou made his fortune in trade in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. From 2000, he began buying factories as a way of immersing himself in the industrial field. Among the first of his acquisitions was Sotrasel (which produces kitchen salt) and in 2001, Plasticam (production of plastic packaging). This was followed by many others in subsequent years which has seen his portfolio swell to include business as diverse as cosmetics, beer, printing, biscuits, hotels and matchsticks.
The industrialist tycoon, who turns 57 in November, decided to expand his Krystal Hotels chain to South Africa after a business trip to the Western Cape. He is said to have fallen in love with the charming Gordon’s Bay, and wanted to create a truly luxurious and unforgettable place for guests to the seaside village to stay.
Although Krystal Beach Hotel will be opening later than the expected, the management team are confident that the wait will be well worth it.