Here’s the official news we received from Ritz-Carlton:
he Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. has signed an agreement with Palm Hills Developments to manage The Ritz-Carlton Cairo, Palm Hills and a Jack Nicklaus-designed 27-hole golf course and clubhouse, set to open in 2012.
Situated within the Palm Hills October community in the new cosmopolitan 6th of October City, the property is approximately 45 minutes from downtown Cairo and within 20 minutes of the pyramids of Giza. Coupled with the mystical elements of Egyptian culture and legendary Ritz-Carlton service, Palm Hills is a spectacular location to host Cairo’s second hotel from the luxury hotel company. The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo will debut as the city’s first in 2011, joining The Ritz-Carlton, Sharm El Sheikh which was the company’s first resort in the country.
“Our partnership with Palm Hills Developments is a very exciting one that sees the continuation of The Ritz-Carlton journey to one of the most captivating corners of the world,” said Simon Cooper, president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. “Cairo provides a voyage of discovery steeped in heritage and the opening of The Ritz-Carlton Cairo, Palm Hills is a key strategic move to expand our presence across the Middle East and North Africa.”
Mr. Yasseen Mansour, chairman and chief executive officer of Palm Hills Developments added, “Our partnership with The Ritz-Carlton further demonstrates Palm Hills Developments’ commitment as a company that seeks to partner with the very best from the hospitality industry in order to offer the highest quality of service to our residents and guests.”
Designed by renowned architecture firm OBM International, each exquisite guestroom in the 160-room resort will feature spacious accommodations to showcase contemporary design with uninterrupted panoramic views of the legendary pyramids, enabling guests to experience a unique interpretation and view of the local lifestyle and culture.
Exclusive privileges at the signature Golf Club will include a dedicated concierge service and generous meeting space. Dining rooms will have a stylish and contemporary feel with an upscale approach to cuisine. Distinctive interiors and exquisite menus highlighting regional cuisine will bring the social ambiance of an all-day dining room, a lobby lounge, a poolside grill and two specialty restaurants, to life.
At the spacious 1,115-square-meter (12,000-square-feet) spa, the concept is simple and yet exudes style and luxurious levels of comfort. The tranquil environment will provide a complete escape within an exclusive environment that fuses healing therapies and relaxation. Additionally, a health club and two outdoor swimming pools will provide recreational areas for both refreshing and vigorous activities.
And to complete the total hotel experience for corporate travelers, the resort will boast sizable meeting and function space to include a 1,400-square-metre (15,000-square-feet) grand ballroom, a junior ballroom and five multi-purpose function rooms.
Palm Hills Golf Club and Resorts is an exclusive community, encompassing a world-class golf course and deluxe homes, blending both comfort and luxury. This gated neighborhood is situated adjacent to the company’s flagship project, Palm Hills October in 6th of October City in the west axis of Greater Cairo, and consists of 480 villas which are spread over two million square meters. It also features Egypt’s first 27-hole golf course, exclusively designed by the renowned golf course design firm, Nicklaus Design.
Palm Hills Developments is one of the premier real estate companies in Egypt. Founded in 2005 by Mansour and Maghraby Investment and Development (MMID), the company was the result of a vision to create self-sufficient communities through the utilization of integrated tools. Presently PHD possesses one of the largest land banks in the country, and an impressive roster of projects in residential, commercial and destination tourism, fashioned to reflect the country’s culture as well as our clients’ lifestyles and prerequisites.