The property opened in the midst of the pandemic in January 2021. What has been the response to it thus far?
The Grand Hyatt Al Khobar Hotel and Residences opened its door in January 2021 with 314 rooms and 54 residences when the pandemic was at its peak and the hospitality industry was impacted the most. We have been overwhelmed by the positive response of our arrival on the market and the trust given to us in such a short period of time. Our occupancy levels have reached and exceeded levels of well-established five-star properties and the feedback received by our guests is heart-warming.
As the first Grand Hyatt in the kingdom, which are the unique features within it?
Grand Hyatt Al Khobar Hotel and Residences has introduced a unique concept of residential meeting suites called “Al Manzil” which is one of its kind premium meeting space in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The idea of Al Manzil is to stay, meet and dine at the same place.
Our property is intuitively designed to cater to an event planner’s every need and ensure they have seamless, personalised, and high-touch experiences for themselves as well as their attendees.
Nirvana, our spa and fitness center is a unique offering with 10 individual treatment rooms. Wellbeing being a top priority, guests should not miss the opportunity to relax and unwind in Nirvana, offering carefully selected treatments with unprecedented quality. Sakana House meanwhile is an artisanal restaurant with Asian cuisine influenced by the Pan-Asian culinary tradition.
What has been some of the biggest challenges in operating the property?
Opening a new hotel is always a challenge, specially getting the right talent to deliver the experience expected from the brand and getting specialised resources to become a hospitality leader.
As we continue to grow our team, we don’t lose sight of what’s most important – people. Hyatt is a company that was built by family. It’s a workplace where coworkers become friends. Apart from competitive remuneration, social benefits and development programs, our culture is one that empowers every individual to be his or her best, and such authentic connection inspires the way we care for each other.
Are there any plans for an expansion of the property?
Our focus this year will be on nurturing our employees, making sure we do anything possible to find new ways to attract and retain talent and strengthen the appeal of the hospitality industry. While this is not something that is not necessarily visible on the outside, I am confident that both guests and business partners will feel the difference.
Further we are focused on establishing the hotel as a hospitality destination of Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia by exceeding our guest’s expectations.
