FRHI Hotels & Resorts Continues its Egypt Expansion; Signs Two New Hotels with Citystars Properties

Swissotel Katameyah rendering
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Dubai, Apr 2015

New Fairmont and Swissôtel projects support FRHI’s global expansion plan to grow by 50 per cent over the next five years

FRHI Hotels & Resorts (FRHI), the parent company of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts and Raffles Hotels & Resorts, today announced the development of two new hotel projects in Egypt while also releasing new details of its previously announced tri-brand hotel development in Sharm El Sheikh.

FRHI signed agreements with Citystars Properties, a leader in the development of high quality mixed-use real estate in Egypt, to brand and operate all five projects. Upon completion, the new hotels will more than double the luxury hotel company’s footprint in Egypt.

The two new projects include a Fairmont hotel in Soma Bay, south of Hurghada and a Swissôtel property in Katameyah, Cairo, which are both scheduled to open before 2020. Soma Bay, an exclusive holiday destination, is ideally situated on the eastern shores of Egypt on the Red Sea coast, just 20 minutes away from Hurghada International Airport. It also boasts panoramic views of the desert and mountains, is surrounded by sea on all sides and is classed as having the most comprehensive diving and kite surfing facilities in the region.

Swissôtel Katameyah is the second property announced which will open in Cairo before 2020 under the FRHI umbrella. Aptly referred to as the ‘New Cairo’, with an oasis of greenery in the midst of the desert covering an area of 250,000 square meters, Katameyah is a prominent and up-and-coming residential, commercial and lifestyle development. The area already includes an upscale retail and entertainment center, luxury residential towers and a specialized health and wellness center.

“The two new signings, as well as the Sharm El Sheikh project, complement our three existing Fairmont hotels in Cairo, which are all prominent landmarks in the city,” said Sami Nasser, FRHI’s senior vice president, operations, Middle East, Africa & India. “This increased development activity reinforces our commitment to the destination and our envisioned potential of the market.”

Fairmont Soma Bay, part of a 10 million square meter integrated mixed-use master development, will feature 300 guestrooms and suites, including Fairmont Gold, the brand’s hotel within a hotel concept, and 150 Fairmont branded Residences for sale. Its diverse food and beverage portfolio will offer an all-day dining room, lobby lounge and bar, beach eatery and specialty restaurant. The hotel will also be a favorite for business functions, incentive groups and special events with more than 2,500 square meters (27,000 square feet) of meeting and event space. A wellness center and spa along with a pristine white beach will complete the leisure activities on offer.

The Swissôtel property will include 250 guestrooms and suites and 50 luxury residential apartments under the Swissôtel Living concept. The hotel will also boast 38 Swiss Executive Club rooms and 1,700 square meters (18,000 square feet) of meeting space. A wide variety of restaurants and lounges, including a specialty restaurant, urban café and lobby lounge set the culinary scene and the signature Pürovel Spa & Sport, inspired by the Alpine seasons, will allow guests to invigorate and revitalize both body and mind.In addition to the two new projects, the Citystars Sharm El Sheikh development featuring the Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel properties, is spread over 7.5 million square meters, including 22 km of white sandy beaches, an 18-hole Colin Montgomerie golf course and the largest man-made, swimmable crystal blue lagoon in the world as acknowledged by Guinness World Records. An irresistible focal point, the Crystal Lagoon is 120,000 square meters of oasis surrounded by the desert used for recreation, swimming, and water sports. Once complete, the Lagoon will be a beach paradise while adhering to energy efficient technologies and practices.

The complex is designed by Godwin Austen Johnson, a renowned architecture practice with works including Dubai Creek Golf Course & Yacht Club, the One & Only Royal Mirage hotel and Bab El Shams Desert Resort in Dubai. Fairmont currently operates a number of properties in Egypt, including Fairmont Nile City, Fairmont Towers, Heliopolis and Fairmont Heliopolis in Cairo.

 

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About FRHI Hotels & Resorts
FRHI Hotels & Resorts (FRHI) is a leading luxury hotel management company that operates more than 125 hotels and branded residential offerings globally under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel brands. The company’s distinctive portfolio of luxury and upper upscale hotels features celebrated icons, world-class resorts and stylish city center hotels. Some notable hotels include Fairmont Dubai, Raffles Singapore, Swissôtel The Bosphorus, Fairmont San Francisco and London’s The Savoy. Focused on growing its distinctive hotel brands, the company is also developing new hotels in key locations around the world including exciting projects in China, Russia, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United States. The company also manages Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel branded luxury private residence clubs, whole-ownership residences and serviced residences properties. For more information visit frhi.com.

 

For further information:

Alka Winter
Director, Public Relations, Middle East, Africa and India
FRHI Hotels & Resorts
+971 50 652 8204
alka.winter@frhi.com

Clare Riddle
PR & Media Relations Manager
Seven Media
056 149 7424
clareriddle@sevenmedia.ae

 

SWISSOTEL HOTELS & RESORTS

Swissotel Hotels & Resorts got its start in Switzerland, a country known for big mountains and equally high standards of living. Its contemporary Swiss style and locally inspired flair attracts business and leisure travellers who enjoy high-end hotels but prefer fresh innovation to stale pretension. Conveniently located where travellers want to be, Swissotel provides guests with the opportunity to stay in the heart of city centres worldwide where access to business and shopping districts are right around the corner. Swissotel properties can be found in over 30 well-located properties around the world, with many more in development. As guests of the world, every Swissotel upholds Swiss sustainability standards. In fact, Swissotel has a mission: to treat guests, team members, and the environment with equal respect. Swissotel is part of FRHI Hotels & Resorts, a leading global hotel company with over 110 hotels under the Raffles, Fairmont, and Swissotel brands. But no matter how international Swissotel becomes, just like the country it was founded in, it remains a small hotel at heart.