Kempinski Hotel Muscat will open in Al Mouj by the fourth quarter of this year, according to officials.

With 310 rooms and 12 restaurants, the five-star Kempinski will be the first hotel in the Al Mouj tourism complex and cater to tourists from both abroad and the Sultanate. 

“We are expecting to inaugurate the hotel by fourth quarter of this year, and are looking forward to bringing a little European flair to the Sultanate” Jeremy Canivet, director of sales and marketing, told the Times of Oman.

The hotel infrastructure is 80 per cent complete and is expected to be handed over to hotel authorities by summer this year.

“We are currently doing exterior finishing; laying marbles inside and by summer we will install chandeliers. Once the interior fit out is complete we will begin staffing and training,” Canivet added.

Kempinski Hotel Muscat plans to hire up to 500 professionals when mass recruitment starts around June.

“Omanis will be our number one priority when we begin hiring in summer 2017. We will be very happy to recruit Omani professionals so that we can give our customers a taste of Omani hospitality when they come to us,”

The Kempinski hotel will be located in the tourist friendly neighbourhood of Al Mouj that welcomes up to 10,000 visitors everyday at its iconic ‘The Walk’ and Canivet believes the location and facilities of the hotel will prove to be ‘a game changer’ in the hospitality industry in the Sultanate.

“There is no better location in the capital than Al Mouj. We have the marina with the potential of several water activities right beside us; we will be the first hotel to be located in such close vicinity to a golf course, the Daminat Island, which is dubbed as one of the best diving places in Oman, is a short boat ride from our hotel, the airport is only 10 minutes away and the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre is 15 minutes away from the hotel. Further to this, the community at Al Mouj will receive a boost with through our facilities, including restaurant, water sports, etc,” he explained.

According to Canivet, the final stages of picking up a provider for water sports activities are ongoing and there are three to four firms bidding for it.

“It will be decided soon” he said. The hotel will also include a dedicated Kids Club that would house indoor kid’s activities and a swimming pool, while water sports, golf and other activities will cater to adults. An 1100 square metre hall that can accommodate around 800 people will help host MICE activities and wedding functions.

Source : Times Of Oman