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SHANGRI-LA EXPANDING ITS MENA FOOTPRINT WITH AN EYE ON SAUDI It has been 16 years since Asian brand Shangri-La debuted its first property in the MENA in Dubai. Today, the chain has more in its pipeline for this booming region. Against this backdrop, John Northen, executive vice president - Middle East, India and Indian Ocean, Shangri-La Group, revealed the chain’s expansion insights to HN How do you compete in the regional luxury properties’ segment? Due to the growing demand from today’s travelers for more engaging, authentic travel options, we focus our efforts into creating products that are more exploratory, more bespoke and more in harmony with local cultures, to offer experiences that resonate on a deeper emotional level with a big emphasis on service quality. This has always been at the core of our values though; we believe in offering guests a sense of place where they can always feel the fusion of the destination and our Asian heritage in each and every one of our hotels and resorts.
What can you tell us about your upcoming Bahrain property and your market expectations? The 310,000-square-meter ‘Bahrain Marina’ stretching along the coastline is scheduled
to open in 2022. The development will be positioned as the Kingdom’s premier lifestyle and leisure destination. In addition to the hotel, the multi-use complex will feature residences, a yacht club, shopping district, family entertainment center and waterfront dining, retail and recreational spaces. Within the complex, Shangri-La will manage a 250-room luxury hotel, 150 one-to-threebedroom suites, eight beach chalets and 21 waterfront villas. Shangri-La Hotel, Bahrain will offer extensive recreational and meeting facilities, including five restaurants, a rooftop lounge, a private beach, two outdoor pools, health club and spa, Kid’s Club and 1,038-square meter ballroom.
Where will you be developing new properties in the region? We are gearing up for our entry into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with our first property in Jeddah. The hotel is planned to open in 2020 and will be housed in a prominent 65-story development located on Jeddah Corniche Road facing the Red Sea, the development is a 236-room hotel and serviced residences project with spectacular sea views. We are also eyeing more opportunities in Saudi Arabia and looking at North and West Africa. While we are committed to our growth and furthering our investment opportunities in the region and beyond, we are mindful of maintaining a strong brand integrity and ensuring our properties all deliver the Shangri-La brand
John Northen
promise. Quality over quantity, we will always be selective in our approach.
Shangri-La’s current MENA properties Oman 180-room Shangri-La Al Husn Resort & Spa 460-room Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa UAE 213-room Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri Abu Dhabi 301-room Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi 302-room Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai shangri-la.com
LOST HOTEL FINDS NEW HOME IN GEMMAYZE Set in the heart of Beirut’s buzzing Gemmayze area, LOST Hotel, which opened mid-2019, is a new 12-room boutique hotel offering an authentic experience of the district Co-owned by Omar Jheir and Michel Abchi, the chairman and CEO of ADMIC SAL, the establishment boasts a unique interior design, in keeping with the traditional style of Lebanese terraces enhanced by chic décor. The rooms are furnished in soft pastels with deep jewel tone drapes. Each individually styled room showcases plush upholstery, golden accents, local artisan mirrors and a selection of local tea house varieties. Other features include a large queen-sized bed, air conditioning and a private bathroom situated elegantly within the space. Each floor of the hotel also has a common area for relaxing or working. LOST restaurant and bar on the ground floor has already become a favorite spot for locals and international guests alike, with a menu conceived by Michelin star
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Chef Greg Malouf. On weekends, the venue hosts up and coming DJs and serves unique cocktails. The restaurant offers a diverse range of modern Mediterranean dishes and a continental or hot breakfast. Room rates range between USD 140 and USD 160 per
night, including breakfast. "The entire experience is curated by LOST’s skilled and dedicated team who help to balance the vibrancy of the metropolis with the charm of a hidden, century-old Middle Eastern abode," said Jheir. lostbeirut.com