Starwood Hotels and Resorts has said it plans to reopen the Sheraton Oman Hotel within the next 12-18 months.
The 230-room property has been closed for “extensive renovation” for six years — since January 1, 2007 — significantly longer than the nine-month forecasted renovation period.
Starwood SVP, regional director, Middle East Guido De Wilde told Hotelier Middle East: “As for the Sheraton Oman, the renovation is currently under process and we plan for the hotel to be operational in the next 12-18 months”.
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The hotel’s website states: “In an effort to serve our valued guests better, our hotel is currently undergoing extensive renovations and is not taking reservations at this time”.
Upon the closure of the hotel in 2007, the then sales and marketing director Sean Cullen, who has since moved to Movenpick, said the Sheraton Oman’s owners and operators had unanimously agreed that the corporate-focused property is in desperate need for an upgrade and that in the long-term, it will attract new markets.
“From Starwood’s point of view, the property needs to be brand compliant. More than 40% of our business is loyal guests that travel from one [Starwood Group] property to another. For them, to go from, say, the Sheraton Creek Dubai to this property is disappointing, because the standards are not consistent,” said Cullen in 2007.
“For us, [after the refurb] we will be changing our [target] market segments rather than getting back lost business,” he added.
The property is located at the top of Ruwi, within walking distance of the city’s central business district and shopping areas.
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