The Royal Family – Flamingo Air Namibia’s Inflight Magazine July 2016

The Royal Family

The Royal Portfolio is family owned and run group of luxury hotels located in iconic South African destinations.

By: The Roving Ambassador

The Royal Portfolio is a family owned and run group of luxury hotels located in iconic destinations across Southern Africa. It started in 1999 when Liz and Phil Biden decided to turn their family bush lodge into a private safari lodge. That lodge is now Royal Malewane – one of the most exclusive safari lodges in Africa and a favourite among celebrities and politicians the world over. Liz explains that, “We wanted to share the lovely things that we as a family had been so fortunate to experience over the years. We had absolutely no idea that we would experience the success and recognition that we have.”

That family ethos permeates throughout The Royal Portfolio, where guests are made to feel completely relaxed and at home. Birkenhead House in Hermanus and La Residence in Franschhoek were soon added to The Royal Portfolio, offering guests a coastal and a gourmet experience to complement the safari experience at Royal Malewane.

Matt Biden, Liz and Phil’s son, joined The Royal Portfolio as Managing Director in 2012 to continue the phenomenal legacy of luxury experiential in Southern Africa. In 2013 La Residence was voted the No.1 Hotel in the World by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler – a wonderful accolade and affirmation of Liz’s natural talents for design and hospitality. The Royal Portfolio opened The One Above penthouse as their first ‘Private Residence’ in 2014 and in 2017 the Biden family will realise their dream of opening a hotel in their home city of Cape Town.

The Silo will open in the historic grain silo complex above Zeitz MOCAA in the V&A Waterfront, completing the circuit of quintessentially South African experiences and providing an experience focussed on the art and culture of South Africa’s Mother City. “It’s addictive”, says Liz in the throes of the family’s latest and most ambitious project – every one of The Silo suites and bedrooms will be individually decorated by the stylish wand of Liz Biden. The Silo hotel will open on 1 March 2017. As for what comes next, Matt Biden says, “There’s nothing concrete to report yet, but I think it’s safe to say that The Silo won’t be the last property in The Royal Portfolio.”