Government tourism development company Omran has invited bids for the first phase construction of the Fort Hotel, a luxury development coming up in the mountains near Bausher.
With the September 19 submission date, 22 companies have so far registered interest in the earthworks package for the hotel, which will see the winning company prepare the terrain on the hotel's 12-hectare site, 25km south-east of Muscat International Airport and 3km from Al Khuwayr.
To be managed by Ritz-Carlton, the five-star hotel will consist of 120 suites as well as six spa suites and eight luxury villas. The development will also feature a host of high-end restaurants, spa and leisure facilities and a 100-seat amphitheatre.
Abdul Wahid al Farsi, vice president of corporate affairs at Omran, told Muscat Daily the hotel will expand the range of tourist offerings available away from the beach resorts currently available in the sultanate.
He said, "Its design will be inspired by our heritage and culture, and will be based on the forts in Oman. It will provide high-quality facilities not only for tourists but for locals as well. Farsi added that the hotel "is probably going to be ready by the end of 2014."
Companies that have evinced interests include Carillion Alawi, Sarooj Construction, Galfar, Taylor Woodrow Towell and Tarmac Zawawi.
In 2008, Omran appointed three international consultants to help with the development, with Dubai-based Currie and Brown subsidiary Baker Barton and Lawson acting as quantity surveyors for the hotel. New Zealand-based Beca International Consultants have been selected as project manager.
© Muscat Daily 2011
