Qasr Al Sharq Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

The Qasr Al Sharq (Palace of the Orient) in Jeddah is a 46 all-suite luxury (palace) hotel, which opened in May 2006. The property is managed by Hilton and is located along the North Corniche in Jeddah, adjacent to the Hilton's existing 414 room hotel in the city. Qasr Al Sharq is a nine-storey triangular-shaped granite building with oriental architectural design and faces the Red Sea.

The hotel has two palace (Qasar) suites each covering half a floor (1,000m²), with two master bedrooms, a private sitting room, a large formal majlis, large dining room and kitchen, and a private health club that includes a gym, sauna and jacuzzi. In addition there are eight Royal Suites, 12 Executive Suites and 24 Junior Suites, all of which are fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology for audio-visual equipment, WiFi internet access and automated controls for lighting, curtains, temperature control and refreshment.

REFINEMENTS

The Qasr Al Sharq has 60kgs of gold leaf on its decorative ceilings, which took six months to apply. The décor also includes a Swarovski chandelier, which graces the main staircase, with 600,000 crystals chained together, gilded in 24 carat gold and sparkling with 260 lights.

The mosaic floors are adorned with different types and colours of marble handpicked from around the world. As part of the decoration there will be 1,200 crystal vases designed in Italy in more than 25 different designs, porcelain china in five different types including Raynaud, Rosenthal and Artichaut, intricate mosaics and the world's best fabrics.

All beds are adorned with 600-thread cotton linens designed in Venice. The texture resembles satin, and gold thread embroidery is custom designed to compliment the room décor. Each duvet cover has more then one million stitched threads of fine gold embroidery.

Bathroom amenities include leading international brands Hermes and Acqua de Parma, and a variety of 20 different oriental-scented soaps have been ordered exclusively for the Palace bathrooms. Interior designers spent a great deal of time researching Arabesque designs and working to blend colour and textures created specially for Qasr Al Sharq, giving it a unique feel and ambience.

SERVICE

The hotel will offer a highly personalised butler service with 17 butlers – trained by the International Guild of Professional Butlers – ensuring that each and every individual need and request is fully met, and that accommodations are kept in immaculate condition, 24 hours a day.

Luggage retrieval and airport transfer via a luxury limousine, driven by specially trained chauffeurs, is another service the hotel offers. The rates range between £766 (SAR 5,000) and £7,656 (SAR 50,000) plus 15% service fee per night. These rates include 'on demand' housekeeping, as often as required, as well as breakfast, wireless internet access, a laptop in the room and late check-out.

FACILITIES

Food and beverage outlets include two restaurants featuring Italian and Middle Eastern cuisine along with private dining facilities. Bice, the internationally known Italian restaurant serves traditional Italian food on the second floor of the hotel overlooking the Red Sea; it accommodates 96 seats with a private dining room for 12 guests.

Guests may also experience the best of Middle Eastern cuisine at Mataam Al Sharq Oriental restaurant. Served in a sumptuous setting and also located on the second floor, it has 100 seats with private dining facilities available for 10 to 30 guests. Both Mataam Al Sharq and Bice are open for lunch and dinner.

There is also a business centre and a luxury spa. The service team for the restaurants are fluent in Arabic and English, and specially trained in communication skills. All restaurant staff for Bice receive theoretical training. In addition, they are briefed as to the geographic history of Bice's recipes, and receive hands-on training for the preparation methods that go into each dish.

CONTRACTORS

The entire project was conceived as a turnkey project from initial design stage through to the final construction, furnishing and decoration, by Haif Company in Riyadh. The interiors were designed by London-based KCA International, whose top-tier portfolio includes Dubai's luxury Burj Al Arab hotel.

Bartech supplied automatic mini-bars in a 40l capacity as a part of the hotel's advanced technology equipment. A total of 26 electronically controlled beverages and snacks will be for sale in each room. Data communication between the B32/11BB mini-bars and the Bartech server run through the hotel's Ethernet network. The equipment will be supported by Bartech Emirates Fze. Versace designed the Bice restaurant.