I think in the industry now clients don't want to be in a hotel that has the same format worldwide; they want the hotel to reflect the destination.
We've gone to extensive lengths to represent Arab culture. We have a fund reserved exclusively for acquiring Arabian art and our service delivery concept is based entirely on Arab culture.
And you think this will be popular?
Of course, not just to the locals but to international travellers as well. With the internet being so widely used the world is becoming smaller and people will write about their experiences and exchange their views.
Our properties will be places that people want to come to and that we hope locals can be proud of.
Shaza recently signed an agreement with MSpa to be in all your Middle East properties. How did that come about?
MSpa is the market leader in the Asian spa concept and has pioneered many of the latest advancements.
Advertisement
We knew about the company because of its joint-venture with Kempinski and we felt it had the knowledge and creativity to help invent a new spa concept for us.
We researched the Hamman experience, qualified what we wanted and MSpa helped us to define it and put it into a context that was operational.
How many Shaza properties will open in the near future?
There are three confirmed hotels with more to follow. The properties in Jeddah and Doha are very close to conclusion and there is one in Bahrain that is in the design phase.
Bahrain went from being low on good hotels to suddenly becoming a business hub, so we are very happy with all three locations.
Shaza Hotels is the product of a partnership between Kempinski and international financial firm Guidance Financial Group.
The company plans to launch seven properties in as many countries with locations confirmed including Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Jeddah, Cairo, Muscat and Marrakech.
RELATED LINK: Shariah by any other name
Search our database of more than 2,700 industry companies
