09 February 2013
MUSCAT -- Work is well under way on one of Oman's most exclusive resort developments -- the ultra luxury Maisons Cheval Blanc on Al Sodah Island off Dhofar Governorate, according to a top official of the project's promoters. Muriya, a joint venture of Orascom Development Holding, Switzerland (70 per cent) and the wholly government owned tourism development company, Omran (30 per cent), is overseeing the implementation of the signature resort scheme, billed as the only one of its kind in the Middle East.
"Al Sodah Island Resort is possibly the least known but the most interesting of our projects," said Chandra Lahiri, CEO of Muriya Tourism Development. "This island is a little next to the Halaniyat Islands right in the middle of the ocean. What we are building here is an extremely high-end luxury hotel operated by the Cheval Blanc Group from the prestigious LVMH stable. There are only 3 or 4 such resorts anywhere in the world, and this will be the only one of its kind in this part of the world."
The super-luxury resort is set on a virgin, ocean-facing beachfront tract covering an area of around 480,000 sq metres. All 20 guest pavilions units and 12 chalets will be designed, built and equipped keeping in mind the exceptional style and class of the Cheval Blanc brand, as well as the singular tastes of its elite customers.
"The hotel is a very unusual one, with no rooms but chalets with their infinity pools and private beach," Lahiri explained. "This is indeed a retreat for the rich and famous. The island is absolutely remote and completely cut off, so you would need your super-yacht, seaplane or helicopter to get there. But once you're there, it's like nothing on earth."
Besides the Cheval Blanc resort on Al Sodah Island, there are only three other Maisons currently in operation or under development in the Maldives, Egypt and France. The hotel brand belongs to luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, which owns the champagne company Moët and fashion house Louis Vuitton.
Similar high-end resorts by the brand are also under consideration at other exceptional destinations.
Roughly a third of construction work on the Oman resort has been completed -- an exercise that takes into careful consideration the sensitive environment and marine ecology of the island and its surroundings, says Lahiri. "This is a little island with no human habitation and animals, but with a lot of marine life, birds, and crabs that are as large as your hand. There are also mussels that can be virtually scraped off the surrounding rocks. It's an extraordinary place and an ecologically sensitive one, and we are going to extreme lengths to preserve it. And to look after the entire place, we have appointed specialist rock-scapers from around the world to ensure that post-construction, the rocks will be returned to the natural form as they were. So there will be minimal impact."
Two jetties are being constructed as part of the resort development, which is about an hour's flight by helicopter from Salalah or a roughly two-and-half hour ride by fast boat. A luxury spa and main lodge are also key components of the 42,000 sq metre built-up development.
The Al Sodah Island resort is one of nearly 14 luxury hotels currently under operation or in various stages of design and development at Muriya's Integrated Tourism Complexes (ITCs) around the country. The portfolio of mainly 5-star properties and high-end resorts will add an estimated 2,800 rooms, as well as around 300 chalets and villas, to Oman's burgeoning hospitality sector.
MUSCAT -- Work is well under way on one of Oman's most exclusive resort developments -- the ultra luxury Maisons Cheval Blanc on Al Sodah Island off Dhofar Governorate, according to a top official of the project's promoters. Muriya, a joint venture of Orascom Development Holding, Switzerland (70 per cent) and the wholly government owned tourism development company, Omran (30 per cent), is overseeing the implementation of the signature resort scheme, billed as the only one of its kind in the Middle East.
"Al Sodah Island Resort is possibly the least known but the most interesting of our projects," said Chandra Lahiri, CEO of Muriya Tourism Development. "This island is a little next to the Halaniyat Islands right in the middle of the ocean. What we are building here is an extremely high-end luxury hotel operated by the Cheval Blanc Group from the prestigious LVMH stable. There are only 3 or 4 such resorts anywhere in the world, and this will be the only one of its kind in this part of the world."
The super-luxury resort is set on a virgin, ocean-facing beachfront tract covering an area of around 480,000 sq metres. All 20 guest pavilions units and 12 chalets will be designed, built and equipped keeping in mind the exceptional style and class of the Cheval Blanc brand, as well as the singular tastes of its elite customers.
"The hotel is a very unusual one, with no rooms but chalets with their infinity pools and private beach," Lahiri explained. "This is indeed a retreat for the rich and famous. The island is absolutely remote and completely cut off, so you would need your super-yacht, seaplane or helicopter to get there. But once you're there, it's like nothing on earth."
Besides the Cheval Blanc resort on Al Sodah Island, there are only three other Maisons currently in operation or under development in the Maldives, Egypt and France. The hotel brand belongs to luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, which owns the champagne company Moët and fashion house Louis Vuitton.
Similar high-end resorts by the brand are also under consideration at other exceptional destinations.
Roughly a third of construction work on the Oman resort has been completed -- an exercise that takes into careful consideration the sensitive environment and marine ecology of the island and its surroundings, says Lahiri. "This is a little island with no human habitation and animals, but with a lot of marine life, birds, and crabs that are as large as your hand. There are also mussels that can be virtually scraped off the surrounding rocks. It's an extraordinary place and an ecologically sensitive one, and we are going to extreme lengths to preserve it. And to look after the entire place, we have appointed specialist rock-scapers from around the world to ensure that post-construction, the rocks will be returned to the natural form as they were. So there will be minimal impact."
Two jetties are being constructed as part of the resort development, which is about an hour's flight by helicopter from Salalah or a roughly two-and-half hour ride by fast boat. A luxury spa and main lodge are also key components of the 42,000 sq metre built-up development.
The Al Sodah Island resort is one of nearly 14 luxury hotels currently under operation or in various stages of design and development at Muriya's Integrated Tourism Complexes (ITCs) around the country. The portfolio of mainly 5-star properties and high-end resorts will add an estimated 2,800 rooms, as well as around 300 chalets and villas, to Oman's burgeoning hospitality sector.
© Oman Daily Observer 2013
