Oman Economic Review – July 2019

38 July 2019

COVER STORY – HOSPITALITY

How was 2018 in terms of news and

business for you, and what do you have

planned for 2019?

This year, we have centered our efforts on

completing an extensive renovation for our

palace hotel, which re-opened on October 1,

2018, to embrace the evolving needs of families

and the modern global traveller. The result is a

next-generation luxury experience.

Our rooms and suites have undergone

extensive redesign to reflect true Omani

culture and heritage, with a mix of modern

elegance and state-of-the-art technology. The

hotel’s restaurants have also had an exciting

transformation, with an extended two-level

terrace at Al Khiran Kitchen for our guests

to have an even more enjoyable dining

experience.

Most of the refurbishment works was carried

out by the Royal Estates at the Royal Court

Affairs in Oman, while renowned luxury

integrated design firm WATG and affiliated

design studio Wimberly Interiors provided

some of the other architecture and interior

renovation under the supervision of the

Royal Estates.

As Muscat’s premier destination for the most

prestigious wedding celebrations and events,

our grand ballroom and meeting rooms have

been carefully reimagined to touch on our

guests’ five senses. Of course, they carry the

best of Omani hospitality, and a legendary Ritz-

Carlton service.

We are now looking at the last quarter of the

year with great excitement and anticipation, as

we reintroduce our newly renovated rooms and

facilities to our guests and visitors over the next

coming months. We are expecting 2019 to be a

year of intense sales activities especially toward

our new and emerging markets such as Russia

REDEFINING LUXURY

HOSPITALITY

Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, reopened

in late 2018 with extensive enhancements.

Katrin Herz, General Manager, talks about the

key trends influencing the luxury travel industry