6 BANYAN TREE AL WADI
Operated by: Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts.
Opening date: Q1 2010.
Location: Wadi Khadeja, Ras Al Khaimah.
USP: First luxury desert resort with an all-pool villa concept to be located in RAK.
Accommodation: 70 Pool Villas and 31 Tented Pool Villas.
Banyan Tree Al Wadi is the group’s second resort in the Middle East, following Banyan Tree Al Areen in Bahrain. It’s the first luxury desert resort in RAK to offer an all-pool villa concept, complete with Asian-inspired hydrotherapy spa facilities, a private beach club, as well as a dedicated nature reserve within the resort grounds.
7 RAFFLES MAKKAH PALACE
Operated by: Raffles Hotels and Resorts.
Opening date: April 2010.
Location: Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
USP: A top-end hotel within three minutes’ walk from the Al Masjid Al Haram, offering residents convenient access to the Grand Mosque.
Accommodation: 211 suites.
Raffles Makkah Palace will have an average of three staff for every suite, complemented with round-the-clock butler service. F&B options include the Tea Lounge in the lobby with a tea and coffee sommelier; the Raffles Creamery serving ice-cream prepared on a cold ‘teppanyaki’ stone; and a Levantine Restaurant serving Eastern Mediterranean fare.
Additional facilities include separate male and female fitness centres, a beauty parlour and grooming salons and the Raffles Amrita Spa.
8 ROYAL MANSOUR
Opening date: Early 2010.
Location: Marrakech, Morocco.
USP: The hotel’s operating company once told Hotelier this property would be fit for a king and would be the most expensive property in the Middle East in terms of room rates.
Accommodation: 53 riads linked by a series of underground tunnels.
Located in 3.5 hectares of gardens, Royal Mansour is designed in the style of a traditional medina, with each riad ranging in size from one to four bedrooms. Each boasts a private courtyard with fountains and plunge pools and the larger ones have galleries and dining rooms with bars. In addition, all riads have a roof terrace offering breathtaking views of the city or the Atlas Mountains. F&B wise, three-star Michelin chef Yannick Alleno will oversee the two main restaurants offering traditional Moroccan and gourmet cuisine.
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9 SOFITEL BAHRAIN ZALLAQ BEACH
Operated by: Accor Hospitality.
Opening date: June 2010.
Location: Zallaq, Bahrain.
USP: Thalassa Spa.
Accommodation: 262 rooms.
The Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq will boast the “first fully-fledged Thalassa Spa” in the GCC, according to Accor Hospitality Middle East managing director Christophe Landais. The 262-room property is due to open in June 2010 and the spa will span more then 2000m² with 14 treatment rooms.
10 THE PALAZZO VERSACE RESORT
Developed by: Sunland Group and Gianni Versace SpA.
Opening date: Late 2010.
Location: Dubai Creek, Dubai.
USP: Versace-designed hotel.
Accommodation: 217 rooms and 169 private residences.
This 130,000m² designer hotel will be situated by Dubai Creek and will boast 217 rooms and suites, 169 luxury private residences, restaurants, a spa, meeting rooms, a Versace boutique, indoor swimming pool, and scuba lagoon all designed by Versace.
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