Premier Hotel OR Tambo

As an airport hotel, Premier Hotel OR Tambo does a good job at creating a calm and relaxing environment. The common areas are warm and inviting with lightly tiled floors paired with dark furniture and soft mood lighting. The spacious lobby includes a free beverage station and small lounge area with contemporary decor. A small indoor garden with evergreen plants and water feature sits between the lobby and restaurant, adding a calming presence to the area. Both the restaurant and bar follow an African-theme in terms of decor, with mostly earthy tones and a few traditional decor pieces. The majority of guests are on transit via OR Tambo International Airport, with several coming to spend a night after flight cancellations or changes. There are also a fair amount of business travelers staying at the hotel for conferences at the hotel or business in the area.

Premier Hotel OR Tambo is located just a six-minute drive from OR Tambo International Airport in Rhodesfield, Johannesburg. The immediate area surrounding the hotel is a mix between residential and industrial, with nothing within walking distance. The vibey Maboneng Precinct is a 24-minute drive away, while Braamfontein is a 30-minute drive away. Nearby business districts include Midrand and Sandton, both about 30 minutes either by car or via public transportation. It's a 30-minute drive to both Nelson Mandela Square and Constitution Hill, and another five-minute drive to the Apartheid Museum. Pretoria's city center is a 35-minute drive away or just under an hour on public transportation. The local township of Soweto is just under a 60-minute drive away, where travelers can join several tours stopping at Nelson Mandela's house and the popular Vilakazi Street with several restaurants and bars. There is a Gautrain Bus Stop right outside the hotel and the nearest Gautrain station (Rhodesfield) is a three-minute drive away.

The 275 guest rooms at Premier Hotel OR Tambo are modern and spacious, with all rooms following a standard look and feel. The decor is mostly bland with dark carpeted floors, lightly colored walls, light wooden furniture, generic artwork, and white linens with green bed throws. While all rooms are quite spacious, the suites are the largest. These have a separate lounge area featuring large work desks, gray sofas, coffee tables, and separate flat-screen TVs. All rooms are soundproofed with double-glazed windows, blocking out all noise from the nearby airport. A few rooms have views overlooking the airport's runway. For families, inter-connecting rooms are available. Amenities in all rooms include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, tea- and- coffee-making facilities, work desks, telephones, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Guests receive a personal touch with their name appearing on the in-room TV upon arrival. Bathrooms include both walk-in showers and tubs. Hairdryers and eco-friendly Green Earth toiletries are provided.

Premier Hotel OR Tambo has a list of features aimed to suit business travelers and guests in transit. The hotel's restaurant, Kubatana Restaurant, offers both buffet and a la carte dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All rates include a free buffet breakfast which offers an extensive spread of hot and cold items like eggs, sausages, meats, cereals, yogurts, fresh fruits, and pastries. The restaurant offers a 24-hour room service, which is nice for late night arrivals. There is also a bar serving a selection of hot and cold beverages. Two outdoor swimming pools are available, both with surrounding sun loungers. There is a small fitness center, with a few slightly dated Matrix cardio machines and free weights; plus free water and towels. The hotel offers a total of nine conference and meeting facilities, catering for up to 720 delegates. The venues range from the three large conference rooms (which can all be joined into one bigger room) to the smaller meeting rooms and boardrooms. There is also a 24-hour business center with internet-connected computers and printing and copying facilities. Wi-Fi throughout the property and on-site parking (including undercover) are free. The hotel offers a free airport shuttle service. Additional features include 24-hour reception and laundry services.