Hyatt Hotels and Resorts has opened its first property in Saudi Arabia, the Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina Club and Spa.
The 142-bedroom five-star property is set amid landscaped gardens on the Corniche of Jeddah, with views of the Red Sea and the 1,000-foot-high King Fahd fountain. It is located in the Al Hamra District, at the Equestrian Club of Jeddah, and is near to the central business 
district. Rooms feature 42-inch flatscreen televisions, multi-line telephones and broadband internet connection.
The construction of the property meant reclaiming land from the Red Sea in order to create a 140,000sqm complex featuring spa and wellness facilities, conference space, a yacht marina and a variety of restaurants and lounges. The lobby lounge, cigar room and Mediterranean restaurant Nafoura are already open, with another four food and beverage outlets due to open shortly. The 2,500sqm Lazurde Meetings & Events 
Centre is also yet to be completed, but will have meeting and banquet facilities for up to 800 guests, while the Palm Courtyard can accommodate up to 900 guests for outdoor events by the Red Sea.
The design of the hotel was masterminded by interior designer Gilles Quiffet and architect Patrice Hart, who sought to take a sleek European style, with modern artwork and contemporary designs, and combine it with traditional Arab-Andalusian features.
Hyatt has 24 Park Hyatt hotels in 17 countries around the world, and will also open a property in Abu Dhabi in 2010 (see online news October 4, 2008). To read more about hotel developments in Saudi Arabia, read King of the Desert from the December 2008 issue of Business Traveller.
Visit jeddah.park.hyatt.com
Report by Sara Turner
