Salalah’s newest luxury resort Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara is expected to open this September.
Located 15km from the airport, the 136 rooms including 96 Villas resort has been designed inspired by the grandeur of the region’s iconic coastal fortresses in mind, James Hewitson, general manager, Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara, tells tabloid!. Each room and villa will offer handcrafted furnishings, rich textures and contemporary Middle Eastern ambience. Overlooking the Arabian Sea, lagoon or picturesque gardens, each guest room will be equipped with interactive LED TVs, luxurious bath products and mini bars. Ensuite bathrooms include rain shower and separate bathtubs, walk-in dressing room and terrace or balcony, with the villas enjoying separate living areas.
“The design brief was to build something in line with the local architecture and would fit in with the vista without looking out of place or obtuse. So they took the design of the forts around Oman, which is off-white colour, the main building and lots of outhouses. Moreover, we’ve used local materials and is something for the local community to be proud of. The villas are all ground level and below the tree line — only the main building sticks out,” said Hewitson, of the resort which sits surrounded by palm plantations, including 750 trees on the property itself.
Targeting visitors mainly from Europe, the resort hopes to makes its presence felt in Germany, Italy and UK.
“These are the three markets we are targeting. [Our aim] would be to promote Salalah as a destination, and Anantara should also be able to help with their presence in the UAE, Qatar, etc,” said Hewitson.
Food wise, Anantara’s signature Asian restaurant Mekong will offer guests cuisines from China, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. The all-day dining eatery Sakalan — the Arabic word for the land of frankincense – provides local and regional delicacies, while Al Mina will serve Mediterranean fare with a focus on Arabic, Italian and Spanish
“We are delighted that the Chinese chef from the Dubai property [Mekong, Anantara The Palm Dubai] has set up the Chinese kitchen. We have a Thai chef coming in from one of our resorts in Phuket and the Vietnamese chef is coming from Mui Ne. So we’ve got authentic chefs to set up the culinary experience,” continued Hewitson. “Both indoor and outdoor seating options will be available as the weather is mostly pleasant. Then [we have the] Dining by Design concept where we serve a romantic and intimate experience with a specially prepared meal at select locations”.
Apart from the food, extending from the Dubai property will be the spa facilities. It will house a hammam, which Hewitson hopes will be its unique selling point, as spas aren’t common placed in Salalah. Other recreational activities would include local excursions on land and sea with established local businesses. Sports such as water skiing, jet skiing, banana boat rides, paddle boats, fishing (the region abounds in tuna and marlin), dolphin watching and diving experiences will be available. On land tours would include drives through the mountains, to the different beaches, archaeological sites, souqs and museums.
For more information or to make a reservation, go to salalah.anantara.com
