Rosewood to open new Riyadh hotel this year

Rosewood has been appointed to manage a new property in Saudi Arabia, in the new Durret Riyadh compound owned by Al Khozama Management Company.

The new five-star deluxe resort hotel, which will have around 250 rooms, will open by the first quarter of 2013. The hotel will feature a swimming pool, spas for men and women, a large banqueting and conference hall with a capacity of 1200 people and three restaurants.

The property will also feature 10 villas, each with between one and five rooms, which will be operated by Rosewood.

Around the property, the development will include another 800 units. Hussein Hatata, vice president – hotel division of Al Khozama Management Company, said: “It’s like a new city which will offer some new products and services for the first time in the Kingdom."

Hatata said the property will focus on greenery and the environment. “In Europe and the US, there are around six metres of greenery per person. In the Middle East, it is from 30cm to two meters. This place will offer somewhere very close to Europe.”

He added: “It’s good to the eye and greenery is an art – it washes the dust from the soul. After you’ve have troubles in your daily life, once you go and lay amongst the greenery and water fountains, it’s like a medicine. It’s an investment that you don’t get a return off but you provide a unique atmosphere for your guest."

Regional vice president for KSA for Rosewood and managing director of Al Faisaliah Hotel and Hotel Al Khozama, Erich Steinbock, said: “We had such a great relationship with [Al Khozama Management Company], we were the first company they approached to manage it. Plus, we’ll have some synergies with other properties in the Kingdom.”