PHOTO
Anantara Salalah-Al Baleed Resort Set to Open Summer 2016
Salalah - Dhofar's newest luxury hotel, Anantara Salalah - Al Baleed Resort -, developed by a joint venture between Omran Hotels & Resorts & Musstir, one of Oman's leading property developers and investors and the leading Governmental investment company developing tourism assets and infrastructure in Oman, is set to open this summer - just in time for the upcoming Khareef season. Welcoming guests with traditional Omani style, the resort, located between a natural lagoon and the beach, will be managed by Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas, the luxury hospitality brand renowned for offering indigenous experiences for modern travellers.
Carefully designed to reflect Dhofar's rich heritage, the resort's striking Dhofari design featuring intricate artistic details is inspired by the region's iconic coastal fortresses and is surrounded by towering palms, magnificent trees, tropical gardens and lush water features. With 136 guest rooms and studios as well as one, two and three bedroom pool villas - the first of their kind in Salalah and Oman - the resort is conveniently located just 10 km from the city centre and 15 km from the airport.
One of the many highlights of the resort experience, the Anantara Spa will feature a hammam and will offer a range of Anantara's signature spa treatments featuring local ingredients and techniques. Guests can enjoy a range of activities from water sports to tennis, and the dedicated children's and teens' club will feature an outdoor splash area and the latest game console equipment as well as a host of fun and creative activities. Culinary experiences range from a Middle Eastern beach bar to a signature Asian restaurant, showcasing cuisine from along the Mekong River. The new resort will offer direct access to the beach and is only a boat ride away across the lagoon from the city's renowned Botanical Garden and the Al Baleed Museum of Frankincense. The resort also puts guests in close proximity to the Al Baleed UNESCO archaeological sites, the Citadel, City Wall and Grand Mosque.
James Hewitson, General Manager of Al Baleed Resort - Salalah by Anantara, said: "On behalf of the team at Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, it is a great honour to work with such visionary partners as Musstir and Omran and to be given the opportunity to open such a distinguished resort in a destination which is developing at such a strong pace. Salalah is a unique location - not just within Oman but for the whole of the GCC. The Anantara brand has been built by drawing upon the expertise and heartfelt hospitality of our hosts in each destination - my team and I look forward to welcoming team members from the local region.
"With Carillon the building Contractor we now have agreed key delivery and opening dates and will commence this week our pre opening recruitment and mobilisation of the training task force from Anantara. We are delighted with the cooperation we have received from the Ministry of Manpower who are assisting us in securing the right level of Omanis into the Hotel and are in discussions with Omran's Tourism College to assist in our preopening training programmes".
"We are actively meeting with leading premium & luxury travel companies and will announce later this week opening room rates for residents & citizens of Oman"
When it opens its doors this summer, Al Baleed Resort - Salalah will welcome discerning guests from across the GCC and all over the world, but the resort also offers the perfect destination for a relaxing staycation for local guests from the region. Proving that home is where the heart is, Omani citizens and local residents will be able to take advantage of preferential rates and opening offers during the Khareef season.
In line with Anantara's ongoing commitment to the local community in each of its destinations, the resort team's goal is to provide long-term employment and development opportunities for residents of Dhofar. For more information about the various positions available and to apply, local citizens are invited to visit www.anantara.com/careers/.
His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy - Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of Omran, said: "The opening of Al Baleed Resort - Salalah by Anantara is a major milestone for the region and reflects our commitment to developing the tourism sector to support the local economy on a long-term, sustainable basis. Salalah is a very popular destination, known for having some of the best beaches in the GCC as well as a rich cultural heritage, and the opening of Al Baleed Resort - Salalah by Anantara puts Dhofar firmly on the map for international travellers."
Dr. Mohamed bin Ali bin Mohamed Al Barwani - founder and Chairman of MB Group / Musstir, added: "This development of Al Baleed Resort - Salalah by Anantara is testament to the results which can be achieved through strategic Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) with the Government, which is the first of its kind in Oman for the real estate / hospitality sector. It is a learning experience, we are proud to herald the opening of the resort with our Government partners, Omran"
For more information, go to: http://www.anantara.com/salalah/ The resort's website will be launching soon and other information can be obtained from www.omran.om and www.musstir.com
-Ends-
About Omran
Oman Tourism Development Company SAOC (Omran) drives the investment, growth and development of the rapidly growing tourism sector in the Sultanate of Oman. The company is the master developer of major tourism, heritage, urban and mixed-use projects, delivering some of nation's most visionary and iconic destinations. As the leading executive government arm for tourism development, Omran has a proven track record of delivering tourism and related projects to a world-class standard, due to our core philosophy of sustainability, transparency and partnering with renowned regional and international investors. Importantly, by working in close collaboration with the local communities, as well as the public and private sector, sustainability is built into every project. The company's portfolio of projects, asset management expertise and investment experience embraces the unique aspects of Oman's culture and heritage, while safeguarding the natural beauty of the country for the future generations.
About Musstir
Musstir LLC is the Property Development arm of MB Group which, currently employs more than 6,500 employees of 51 nationalities in 20 countries worldwide and has annual turnover in excess of US$ 1 billion.
Musstir is managed by a professional team with the necessary technical expertise to handle required hospitality, real estate projects and design management. Musstir is backed by its parent company, MB Holding, an Omani investment group with interests in Oil, Gas, Mining and other investments.
Musstir's focus is to develop high-end exclusive luxury real estate and hospitality with several projects under development and construction including brands such as Cheval Blanc (Louis Vuitton Hotel Management), Anantara and Per Aquum (Minor Group).
Musstir is currently having a significantly growing real estate portfolio, aiming to position Musstir as a major regional and international property developer in the near future, including several luxury resort destinations, residential and industrial facilities, with a total of 989 keys and more than OMR 400 Million investment. Musstir is also engaged in the field of facilities management of several real estate properties.
About Anantara
Anantara is a luxury hospitality brand for modern travellers, connecting them to genuine places, people and stories through personal experiences, and providing heartfelt hospitality in the world's most exciting destinations. The collection of distinct, thoughtfully designed luxury hotels and resorts provides a window through which to journey into invigorating new territory, curating personal travel experiences.
From cosmopolitan cities to desert sands to lush islands, Anantara connects travellers to the indigenous, grounds them in authentic luxury, and hosts them with passionate expertise, currently boasting over 30 stunning properties located in Thailand, the Maldives, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Zambia, the UAE and Qatar, with a pipeline of future properties across Asia, the Indian Ocean, Middle East and Africa.
For more information on Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, please visit www.anantara.com. Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/anantara; Twitter and Instagram: @anantara_hotels
For further information, please contact:
Omran:
Sulaiman Ali Al Maqbali, Communication Coordinator
Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran)
Tel: +968 2439 1181
Email: sulaiman.maqbali@omran.om
Mussitir:
Noof Al Malki, Communication Coordinator
Musstir LLC
Tel: +968 2203 0221
Email: noof@musstir.com
www.musstir.com and www.mbholdingco.com
Anantara
Bryony Gammon - Director of Public Relations & Communications
Minor Hotel Group
Tel: +66 (0) 2365 7674
Email: bgammon@minor.com
© Press Release 2016
