Shangri-La
Al Husn Resort & Spa, Muscat yesterday
unveiled its flagstone in a ceremony to commemorate its relaunch as a separate
resort to Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa. The event was attended by His Excellency
Mohammad Al Zubair, founder of The Zubair Corporation and Mr Ziyad M. Al
Zubair, Director of The Zubair Corporation - developers and owners of the
property, as well as Her Excellency Maitha Bint Saif Majed Al
Mahrouqi, Oman's Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism and local
dignitaries. Joining the celebrations at
a cocktail reception were over 100 invited guests and clients.
In repositioning Shangri-La Al Husn
Resort & Spa, Muscat, luxurious and highly personalised experiences through
refreshed accommodation, dining and wellness facilities have been introduced. The property was previously promoted
as part of the adjacent Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Sultanate
of Oman – an integrated destination resort comprising the family and
leisure-focused Al Waha and Al Bandar hotels, which opened in February 2006.
“Our
hospitality strategy is to acquire and develop assets with a strong intrinsic
value for long term fundamental growth. We
are excited to complete the hotel's significant refinement in time for Muscat’s
peak season,” said Mr. Rashad Al Zubair, chairman of The Zubair Corporation. “As a result, we expect that the re-launch of
Al Husn will further strengthen the asset’s market presence, together with the
outstanding leadership of the hotel management team.”
“The timing is right to relaunch Shangri-La Al Husn Resort & Spa, Muscat as
a destination for refined luxury in Oman,” said the hotel’s General Manager
Milan Drager. “With the dedicated
support of our owners, we are elevating Omani and Asian hospitality to a new
level of sophistication within an exclusive social setting for sophisticated
travellers.”
References to Oman’s rich heritage begins from the moment of arrival at the
palatial Al Husn – meaning ‘castle’ in Arabic.
Guests are greeted by doormen in traditional Omani attire and treated to
sparkling date juice and scented hand towels to freshen up. Chinese
tea service is served in-room upon check-in.
Designed to reference the historic architecture of Omani forts – which can be
seen in the courtyard features, arches, water installations and palm trees –
the resort intends for guests to immerse themselves in its fusion of Moorish
architecture in the style of the Alhambra Palace in Spain, as well as the
timeless backdrop of the Gulf of Oman.
In a destination famed for its beautiful dunes and rich heritage, Shangri-La Al
Husn Resort & Spa, Muscat’s team of specialists are dedicated to creating
historical and cultural experiences with bespoke itineraries from pre-arrival
and throughout the guest’s stay. The
offerings include:
- Wadi
Al Arbaeen Experience - Luxury four-wheel drive
cars take guests through scenic countryside and rugged mountains to Quriyat, a
small coastal fishing village for eagle spotting. From there the journey continues to Wadi Al Arbaeen,
famous for its natural deep pools of fresh water, for a dip in the cool
sapphire-green waters. After a
customised traditional barbecue lunch, guests end the day with a visit to a
beautiful waterfall.
- Robinson
Crusoe Island Tour - Starting on a luxury
yacht, guests can enjoy the rich marine life and discover wild turtles,
dolphins and whales off the coast of Oman. On the shores of Bander Al Khairan island,
which has a beautiful natural beach, guests can snorkel
in the calm waters of Omani Bay brimming with unique sites and fish, turtles
and coral reef. The tour includes a barbecue
lunch served under a traditional Omani luxury marquee on the beach.
The resort’s 180 rooms and suites range in size from 56 to 500 square
metres.
Dressed in traditional interiors with dark wood and warm earth tones, all
rooms have sea views and look out to the pool or beach from their private balconies. The marble bathrooms feature a deep-soaking tub, walk-in shower and L’OCCITANE
toiletries, while sliding wooden panels allow guests to admire the outdoor view
while luxuriating in the bath.
Other exclusive guest benefits include butler service, daily afternoon tea,
pre-dinner cocktails, beverages from the in-room mini-bar and use
of the resort’s private cove and iconic infinity pool that is restricted to guests
over 16 years old. In addition, Al Husn guests
have access to a total of 21 dining and nightlife options, including the extensive
offerings at Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Sultanate of Oman.
Further enhancing the resort’s attraction as a luxurious retreat is the new Hareer
Spa by L’OCCITANE with four boutique treatment rooms and a designated retail
area. Expert therapists trained by
L’OCCITANE en Provence provide restorative face and body experiences utilising the
signature ingredients from L’OCCITANE: Immortelle from Corsica, Lavender and almond
from Provence, as well as shea butter from Burkina Faso.
One of the highlight treatments – the
“Omani Honey Heaven,” created exclusively for the Hareer Spa by L’OCCITANE
features a traditional endemic ingredient from Oman, honey. Known for its calming qualities, it is used
as a softening scrub and in a deep relaxing massage to ease tensions, and leaves
skin fragrantly wrapped in its subtle fragrance. A health club with state-of-the-art equipment,
a sauna and steam room is also available.
Beyond the resort’s water gardens lies the infinity pool with its Instagram-worthy
views of the Gulf of Oman that also defines the setting of the private
100-metre beach. Here, guests can laze
the day away on daybeds, cabanas and privacy lounges or take up kayaking and
paddle boarding.
The hotel is home to fourrestaurants
and lounges helmed by new Executive Sous Chef, Marco De Vincentis. They include Shahrazad, a stylish Arabian
restaurant that treats guests to the exquisite tastes of Morocco at its indoor
and al fresco terrace seating. Paying
homage to modern Spanish cuisine is Sultanah, a stylish light-filled restaurant
complemented with views of the Gulf of Oman.
For casual dining, Mahhara Beach Bar serves up grilled seafood and meats, as
well as light salads, sandwiches and refreshing beverages. Al Muheet pool bar and restaurant offers dishes
using fresh ingredients that are locally sourced, innovatively prepared and
complemented by tropical drinks and creative cocktails.
Taking experiential dining to the next level is the resort’s Dine by Design concept
for two at the resort’s romantic locations. Couples can choose from dramatic settings to candlelit meals on the beach for memorable experiences in Oman.
At sunset, the central courtyard comes to life for cocktails from 6 p.m. The social activity continues at the Silver Lounge cigar
bar when it opens at 9 p.m., providing another entertainment option for guests.
As part of “Rooted In Nature” – Shangri-La’s culinary sustainability initiative
to recognise local farmers, the resort has collaborated with Yuzu Farm to
enable direct purchases of seasonal home-grown organic vegetables and herbs from
the owners. In addition, the
collaboration enables guests to privately tour the resort’s dedicated plot at
the farm to learn about farming processes and to bring their choice of fresh produce
back to Al Muheet restaurant for the chef to use in a personal creation.
###
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, an iconic flagship brand of the Shangri-La Group, currently operates over 80 deluxe hotels and resorts with a room inventory of over 35,000. Renowned for its distinctive Asian hospitality, the Company has properties in destinations of Australia, Canada, Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sultanate of Oman, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. The group’s award-winning Golden Circle loyalty programme extends to all properties of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts worldwide. For more information, visit
www.shangri-la.com.