Al Faisaliah Hotel and Al Faisaliah Suites, one of Saudi Arabia’s finest five-star properties, has embarked on a multi-million-dollar refurbishment, which will further strengthen its position as the kingdom’s leading luxury hotel.
The renovation will modernise and revitalise the property, whilst preserving its character, elegance and charm, Alexander Blair, general manager, tells
TTN in an interview.The property features 330 beautifully appointed rooms and suites, exclusive 24-hour butler service, 6,300 sq m of contemporary and versatile meeting space, six international restaurants, a state-of-the-art health club and the Al Faisaliah Spa by ESPA, exclusively for ladies. Al Faisaliah Hotel, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, is owned and operated by Al Khozama Management Company, Saudi Arabia’s leading hospitality and property management company. 'Over the next two years all guest rooms and suites will be transformed with designs by global interior and architectural firm HOK. Their impressive hospitality design portfolio includes the Peninsula Shanghai and the St Regis Hotel and Residences Bangkok. Landmark design house Super Potato is also working its artistic magic on the space formerly occupied by La Brasserie to create the consummate restaurant design, which along with the first phase of 120 new rooms will debut in 2017,' reveals Blair.Each of the rooms and suites offers unparalleled elegance and luxury and the variety of available accommodation enables the property to appeal to all guests, whether they are travelling for business or leisure, says Blair.'We feel confident about our position in the market as we offer a unique and established product. We are proud to offer a wide range of accommodation, and the first and only dedicated all-suite property in the Saudi capital with 106 suites across eight categories at Al Faisaliah Suites.'
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Blair ... transformation |
The hotel has a strong base of international business travellers and GCC leisure travellers who are visiting family or attending weddings in the kingdom. 'Our extensive conference facilities and reputed spa also position us well for targeting the Mice (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) sector which we consider to be potential growth areas for the future,' he says.Guests can expect tailor-made luxury experiences at the iconic hotel. 'Our dedicated butlers are on hand 24 hours to deliver comprehensive solutions for all guest needs, from packing and unpacking suitcases and arranging laundry to making restaurant, tour and transportation reservations,' continues Blair.Al Faisaliah Hotel offers a collection of five opulent restaurants that showcase modern European cuisine alongside authentic Middle Eastern influences. From the awe-inspiring views of the city from the spectacular signature restaurant The Globe to the authentic Italian flavours at La Cucina and Brazilian barbecue at Il Terrazzo, there is a unique and stylish dining experience for everyone. Al Faisaliah Spa by ESPA highlights glamour and elegance and brings to life the vision of a unique, exclusive luxurious ladies only retreat within the heart of the city. Meticulously designed by Princess Al Anoud Bint Khaled Bin Abdullah Al Saud, the spa is adorned with lavish materials, glittering Swarovski crystals and cascading waterfalls to create a magical journey and sense of wonderment.Al Faisaliah witnessed a healthy increase in occupancy and RevPAR between 2014 and 2015 and maintained its number one position. The forecast for 2016 is looking extremely promising, said Blair.Asked if he sees any impact from the current economic downturn in the region, Blair says: 'With our varied product offering, we see ourselves as being in a position to lead the way in many popular niche segments, which remain more resilient against the downturn. A potential growth area for us is Mice. We know that within the region there is scope for Riyadh accommodating a larger portion of this market and with more than 6,000 sq m of meeting space, Al Faisaliah Hotel is in a prime position for cornering a greater share of this growing segment.' On the overall Saudi tourism market, he said tourism authorities have recently announced that the country is 'ready for investment', this step to develop Saudi Arabia as a tourist destination will certainly change the demographics of visitors over time. 'With the support and determination of Prince Sultan Bin Salman, president and chairman of the board of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, we are looking ahead and preparing ourselves for a time when the country becomes a strong leisure destination and receives a larger share of international family travelers,' he continues.In December 2015, the property scooped two awards from the prestigious World Travel Awards, an industry hallmark of excellence, celebrating the best of the best across the travel industry. Al Faisaliah Suites picked up the awards for ‘World’s Leading Luxury Suite Hotel’ and ‘World’s Leading Hotel Penthouse’ for its sumptuous Royal Penthouse Suite.
By Sree Bhat
