Only 11-months-old, Signature Life Hotel Group manages, owns and leases 4100 hotel bedrooms locally and abroad. It is constructing 17 hotels in South Africa at a cost of R1-billion.

The new kid on the block, headed by four former executives of the Three Cities hotel group, plans to open five hotels in Durban alone between February and June, in time for the soccer World Cup.

Yesterday, the Durban company, which has interests in Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius, announced its plans for development in KwaZulu-Natal.

"Our growth in KwaZulu-Natal will boost the region by growing tourism, preparing for the influx of tourists to the 2010 World Cup," said Signature Life Hotel Group managing director Alan Vels. The projects are expected to create 4000 jobs.

The 81-room five-star Docklands Hotel, on the Point Waterfront, will be the first of the group's hotels to open, in April. Jozini Tiger Lodge will open in March and The Westbrook will take in its first guests in July.

The group has developed brands ranging from edgy to modern, and stylish to extreme. They include Life Airport, Life Chic and Life Easy hotels.

"Under the Chic umbrella of Life hotels, a further two hotels will be opened in the hub of Durban's trendy restaurant district," said Vels. "The Vintage and Morningside Life hotels will be leading the way in terms of style. They will be situated in the Morningside area, where Durban's most fashionable people like to feel the city's rhythm."

The group has taken over the management of the two four-star Quarters hotels in Durban, and of one in Hermanus, Western Cape.

The newest Signature brand is Extreme hotels. The first opens in Durban early next year.