Tourexpi
RCU partners with luxury hotel operator GHM to develop The Chedi Hegra
Situated within Saudi
Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site and opening by Q4 2023, The
Chedi Hegra will offer 35 bespoke guest rooms, each with its own distinct
connection to the Hegra landscape, a breathtaking testimony of human expression
within the natural environment.
RCU is building the
hotel directly into several existing structures, including an old railway
station and surrounding buildings, Hegra Fort, and others. Structural and
exterior walls, some with historical mud-brick construction, are being
preserved and integrated with modern architecture. The vast majority of the
UNESCO World Heritage Site will remain untouched by construction and carefully
preserved by RCU to maintain the integrity of Hegra's incredible human and
natural heritage.
RCU has also ensured
all design and construction efforts align with the Sustainability Charter for
AlUla, including a light-touch tourism approach, imaginative infrastructure,
planting of native flora, and an all-electric mobility system. Where possible,
the project will use local construction materials and work with local
businesses and labour, and the hotel is expected to create at least 120 jobs
once fully operational.
The property will
feature three fine-dining restaurants, a café, and a full-service spa and pool,
with many of the buildings connected by an overhead art canopy focused on wind
movement and natural light.
The on-site
restaurants will each offer unique experiences for hotel guests and others
visiting Hegra. One of the restaurants inside the old railway station will
feature an exhibition of carefully preserved artefacts, including a
fully-restored train, while another will sit within the Hegra Fort, and a third
will feature unobstructed views from a sunken water basin seating area.
John Northen, RCU
Vice President of Hotels & Resorts, said: "Sitting at the nexus of
AlUla's living museum, The Chedi Hegra embodies the fulfilment of our Journey
Through Time master plan with its deep respect for heritage, sustainable design
features, and an authentic luxury experience that celebrates what makes AlUla a
special destination for travellers seeking both comfort and adventure."
Tommy Lai, Chief
Executive Officer of General Hotel Management Pte Ltd (GHM), said: "GHM is
thrilled to introduce this luxurious heritage boutique hotel that will offer
authentic, unrivalled lifestyle experience deep within the ancient Nabataean
site of Hegra. As the first hotel within Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO
World Heritage Site, we are committed to preserve the site's integrity while
seamlessly integrating modern architecture and comforts. I am certain that
guests will recognise and appreciate the value we place in minimising our
environmental impact, through the sustainable efforts of the hotel, in addition
to our dedication in conserving the legacy of Hegra – a true GHM hallmark of
creating inspired spaces."
Image Credit: © Royal Commission for
AlUla
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