FRHI Hotels & Resorts has signed agreements with developer Citystars Properties to brand and operate two new hotel projects in Egypt, in addition to the three hotels planned at the separate Sharm El Sheikh development.
The two new projects include Fairmont Soma Bay, south of Hurghada on the eastern shores of Egypt on the Red Sea coast, and a Swissôtel in Katameya in Cairo. Both are scheduled to open before 2020.
The Fairmont property, which is part of a 1,000-hectare (2,471-acre) mixed-use development, will offer 300 bedrooms – including the brand’s hotel within a hotel concept Fairmont Gold. There will also be 150 Fairmont-branded residences for sale, comprehensive diving and kite-surfing facilities, four dining venues, more than 2,500sq m (26,910sq ft) of meeting and event space, as well as a wellness centre and spa with views of desert and mountains – surrounded by sea on all sides.
Details of the spa at this property have yet to be revealed.
The Swissôtel in Cairo will have 250 guestrooms and 50 residential apartments, a variety of restaurants and a signature Alpine Pürovel Spa and Sport centre.
Separate to these two new signings, FRHI will brand and operate the three hotels planned at Citystars’ Sharm El Sheik development with each of its three brands: Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel. Designed by Godwin Austen Johnson, the complex will spread over 750 hectares (1,853 acres), including 22km (14 miles) of white sandy beaches.
The development will feature an 18-hole Colin Montgomery golf course and an enormous man-made crystal blue lagoon swimming pool. The crystal lagoon measures 12 hectares (30 acres) and will be used for swimming and water sports.
