From vertical precincts to boutique retreats—how this homegrown brand is rethinking South African hospitality

 Redefining Hospitality, One Landmark at a Time

 First came @Sandton Hotel—Johannesburg’s most ambitious new lifestyle destination. Then, in 2024, @Franschhoek Hotel opened its doors in the heart of the Winelands. Now, with a new @Collection property on the horizon, the story of one of South Africa’s most forward-thinking hospitality brands is just beginning.

What started as a bold developer-led idea has become a living blueprint for modern hospitality—redefining how people live, stay, and connect in urban and leisure environments.

In just over three years, the @Collection has shifted the focus from standard service to seamless experience, from standalone properties to integrated precincts, and from luxury for show to luxury that works.

Backed by Visionaries: The Power Behind the Precincts

The engine behind the @Collection’s rise is Acsion Limited, a property development and investment group that doesn’t follow trends—it defines them. Through its development arm, Anaprop, Acsion is delivering more than buildings. It’s crafting ecosystems.

The flagship? Acsiopolis , located in Sandton’s Benmore Gardens. Here, the @Sandton Hotel is just one layer in a high-performance vertical environment that includes:

• 480 long-stay apartments
• High-end residential suites
• A curated lifestyle deli
• Boutique spa & aesthetic clinic
• Private cinema
• Coworking lounge
• Rooftop pool & clubhouse
• 24-hour gym
• Conferencing facilities
• A children’s school
  —all under one brand and one operational mindset.

“We weren’t just launching a hotel,” says General Manager Anthony Batistich. “We were creating a self-contained lifestyle ecosystem—one that empowers people to live, work, and relax seamlessly.”

Precision Meets Passion: The Operational Heartbeat

Anthony Batistich joined the precinct at its most pivotal moment: just ahead of launch in March 2022. What followed was a multi-layered transformation—from blueprint to fully realised, high-functioning hospitality precinct.

A seasoned hotelier with an eye for detail and an intuition for people, Anthony brings both operational sharpness and emotional intelligence to the brand.

“Luxury isn’t marble and thread count,” he says. “It’s when everything works as it should—silently, seamlessly, with heart.”

He’s known for building cross-functional teams who don’t just meet standards—they anticipate needs. From reception to F&B to long-stay management, the precinct runs like a high-touch, high-efficiency ecosystem—customised for the guest but grounded in process.

From Sandton to the Winelands: A Brand on the Move

In early 2024, the group expanded with the opening of @Franschhoek Hotel—a 69-room retreat built on the expansive grounds of the Hey Joe Brewery. The property offers a quiet luxury that complements the region’s charm, pairing modern finishes with the brand’s guest-centric DNA.

Designed with the leisure guest in mind, the hotel includes:

• Interleading family-friendly layouts
• Bistro-style dining
• Onsite access to the brewery and taproom with brewery tours and tastings
• Easy proximity to Franschhoek’s cultural and culinary landmarks

Not all rooms have fireplaces, but each suite reflects a sense of place—both in design and guest journey.

“We didn’t replicate Sandton in the Winelands,” says Anthony. “We translated our philosophy—purposeful hospitality, designed for how people truly want to travel.”

A New Chapter Begins: Cape Town Awaits

The @Collection’s next landmark? A new development in Cape Town, set to join the brand in the coming year.

Located on Bree Street, one of the city’s most vibrant corridors, the property will further the group’s vision of hospitality that blends urban integration, design excellence, and community feel.

Details are still under wraps, but if Sandton and Franschhoek are any indication, the next @Collection member will be more than just a place to stay—it will be a new way to belong.

Why It Works: Vision, Consistency, and Courage

Across locations, the @Collection is unified by a core belief: guests deserve more than function—they deserve flow.

Whether in a hotel room, a long-stay unit, or a high-end residence, the brand’s success lies in:

• Developer-operator alignment
• Long-stay and mixed-use inventory flexibility
• Operational systems that serve, not show
• An architecture of experience—not just infrastructure

“Hospitality isn’t a product,” Anthony says. “It’s a rhythm. When you get the timing right, everything feels easy—for the guest and the team.”

This Isn’t Just a Collection of Hotels

It’s a brand rooted in place, led by people, and designed for how South Africans really live—whether that’s a business traveller in Benmore Gardens, a bridal party in Franschhoek, or a creative professional walking to work in Bree Street.

As more guests discover the @Collection, they’re not just booking rooms. They’re opting into a new kind of hospitality: one that’s quietly confident, carefully choreographed, and unapologetically local.