Some of you may remember the old Chinese takeaway hotel in downtown Ruwi that is the tallest building in Oman: The Sheraton Hotel.
The hotel closed it's doors for a 6 month, 8 million rial refurbishment 5 years ago. Today, at a rumored project budget in excess of RO 40 million (this is just industry rumor, no hard evidence to support this), the hotel remains closed. Rather amusingly, National Hotels (the company that owns the hotel, part of the Al Hashar group of companies) held a press conference on Wednesday evening at 6:00pm last week. Here's the best bit: they held the press conference in the Al Bustan Palace! hahaha! A Hotel holding a press conference about it's opening.... in another (unrelated) hotel. #fail
It appears that the managing company, National Hotels, must have decided that they were incapable of running the hotel that made sense in an economic way, and so have sub-contracted this out to UAE outfit, Tawasel International Trading Company.
So, apart from having a press conference at 6pm in another hotel to announce your own hotel is about to open, here's a selection of questions asked of National Hotels, and the answers given. I thought it was quite funny, yet somewhat concerning....
1. When will the hotel open?
A: We are going to be "opening shortly" (as happily reported in the ToO on Thursday)
2. When exactly will the hotel open?
A: "Shortly"
3. How much has the refurbishment cost?
A: No comment
4. Why has there been such a long delay?
A: No comment
5. When will the spa be ready, and what will attract monthly rate-payers to come to Ruwi to use it, as opposed to other spa's in the 5* resorts between Qurum and Ghubra?
A: No comment
6. Why have you signed an MoU with an Abu Dhabi operating company?
A: No comment
Amusing.
The refurbishment was originally managed by a company called Bovis Lend Lease (BLL), which has since ceased to operate in this country. Something to note: the sponsor of that company was none other than the Al Hashar group.
BLL had a problem with the ever-increasing scope of works coming from both the owner (Al Hashar) and also the operator (Starwood Hotels - owner of the Sheraton brands). The defacto chief engineer was based in the UK and very infrequently visited the site, and when he did, usually there were a number of changes made. And so, eventually, BLL were removed from the project and replaced by Coffey Project Management, who did their best to try and get things back on track, but eventually quit (so the rumor goes) the project as well through rumored non-payment of their fees.
Non-payment of fees on this project is a very common gripe many trades in town have with this project. Which, when the project budget has grown as much as it is rumored to have, then you could understand that the Client may have not have been prepared for such an increase. Who, after-all, keeps that much cash on hand?
Enough of the negative. The refurbished hotel is indeed very nearly complete, and I have seen pictures from inside the hotel (sorry I can't share them here). The lobby is actually beautiful - the marble is incredible, with veins in the marble staying as tile to tile change - as if it was how it was originally quarried from the earth. The ball room is huge - it must be the largest ball room in the country, and it is fully wired for sound light and data - I'd imagine it may become a popular spot for business purposes too.
The rooms have all been completely and utterly gutted and totally overhauled. Entire new bathrooms, air conditioning and finishes are amongst the upgrades - yes, for those wondering, they fixed the smell problem that the rooms used to have as well. Flat panel screens, data-ready rooms and all the usual things you'd expect from a 5* hotel are all standard of course. There are even Playstation 3's for the rooms as well, a nice touch I thought.
The nightclub in the basement was dumped, and a new spa with indoor pool is in it's place - no word on when that will be ready though. Outside, the tennis courts have been replaced, along with the pool being completely re-built along with ancillary buildings too. All the parking spots have shades - something even The Chedi can not boast.
And finally... industry rumor puts the hotel "soft" opening in early April.
Stay tuned for more soon.
Last chance to enter for free tickets to Snow Patrol.... click here for more.
le fin.
The hotel closed it's doors for a 6 month, 8 million rial refurbishment 5 years ago. Today, at a rumored project budget in excess of RO 40 million (this is just industry rumor, no hard evidence to support this), the hotel remains closed. Rather amusingly, National Hotels (the company that owns the hotel, part of the Al Hashar group of companies) held a press conference on Wednesday evening at 6:00pm last week. Here's the best bit: they held the press conference in the Al Bustan Palace! hahaha! A Hotel holding a press conference about it's opening.... in another (unrelated) hotel. #fail
It appears that the managing company, National Hotels, must have decided that they were incapable of running the hotel that made sense in an economic way, and so have sub-contracted this out to UAE outfit, Tawasel International Trading Company.
So, apart from having a press conference at 6pm in another hotel to announce your own hotel is about to open, here's a selection of questions asked of National Hotels, and the answers given. I thought it was quite funny, yet somewhat concerning....
1. When will the hotel open?
A: We are going to be "opening shortly" (as happily reported in the ToO on Thursday)
2. When exactly will the hotel open?
A: "Shortly"
3. How much has the refurbishment cost?
A: No comment
4. Why has there been such a long delay?
A: No comment
5. When will the spa be ready, and what will attract monthly rate-payers to come to Ruwi to use it, as opposed to other spa's in the 5* resorts between Qurum and Ghubra?
A: No comment
6. Why have you signed an MoU with an Abu Dhabi operating company?
A: No comment
Amusing.
The refurbishment was originally managed by a company called Bovis Lend Lease (BLL), which has since ceased to operate in this country. Something to note: the sponsor of that company was none other than the Al Hashar group.
BLL had a problem with the ever-increasing scope of works coming from both the owner (Al Hashar) and also the operator (Starwood Hotels - owner of the Sheraton brands). The defacto chief engineer was based in the UK and very infrequently visited the site, and when he did, usually there were a number of changes made. And so, eventually, BLL were removed from the project and replaced by Coffey Project Management, who did their best to try and get things back on track, but eventually quit (so the rumor goes) the project as well through rumored non-payment of their fees.
Non-payment of fees on this project is a very common gripe many trades in town have with this project. Which, when the project budget has grown as much as it is rumored to have, then you could understand that the Client may have not have been prepared for such an increase. Who, after-all, keeps that much cash on hand?
Enough of the negative. The refurbished hotel is indeed very nearly complete, and I have seen pictures from inside the hotel (sorry I can't share them here). The lobby is actually beautiful - the marble is incredible, with veins in the marble staying as tile to tile change - as if it was how it was originally quarried from the earth. The ball room is huge - it must be the largest ball room in the country, and it is fully wired for sound light and data - I'd imagine it may become a popular spot for business purposes too.
The rooms have all been completely and utterly gutted and totally overhauled. Entire new bathrooms, air conditioning and finishes are amongst the upgrades - yes, for those wondering, they fixed the smell problem that the rooms used to have as well. Flat panel screens, data-ready rooms and all the usual things you'd expect from a 5* hotel are all standard of course. There are even Playstation 3's for the rooms as well, a nice touch I thought.
The nightclub in the basement was dumped, and a new spa with indoor pool is in it's place - no word on when that will be ready though. Outside, the tennis courts have been replaced, along with the pool being completely re-built along with ancillary buildings too. All the parking spots have shades - something even The Chedi can not boast.
And finally... industry rumor puts the hotel "soft" opening in early April.
Stay tuned for more soon.
Last chance to enter for free tickets to Snow Patrol.... click here for more.
le fin.
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