JEDDAH, 18 August 2006 — Hilton International said yesterday that its 46 all-suite Qasr Al-Sharq, a palace hotel with opulence, luxury and exclusivity, is now open to offer the largest guest suites in the Middle East and a personalized butler service. “Hilton International’s first ever palace hotel, ‘Qasr Al-Sharq’ or ‘Palace of the Orient’ is now open, promising discerning travelers unparalleled luxury, lavish interiors, Arabian hospitality and the latest cutting-edge technology, a team of Hilton’s top executives,” Qasr Al-Sharq’s Manager Marc de Beer told a press conference yesterday.

Located adjacent to the Jeddah Hilton, “the premier property is set to redefine the booming tourism and hospitality sectors in Saudi Arabia, with a host of first-ever services and amenities such as the largest guest suites in the region, a unique personalized butler service and exceptionally opulent interior design of a most spectacular caliber,” de Beer said.

“With the government actively promoting domestic tourism, the opening of Qasr Al-Sharq comes at an opportune time. We believe that it will play a significant role in shaping the future of high-end tourism in the Kingdom,” he said, adding that Saudi nationals are expected to account for 95 percent of all its guests.

Facing the Red Sea on the main Corniche, the palace is a nine storied triangular shaped granite building with oriental architectural design. The palace comprises two palace suites — each covering half a floor with two master bedrooms, a private sitting room, a large formal majlis, large dining room and kitchen, and a private health club that includes a gym, sauna and Jacuzzi — in addition to eight royal, 12 executive and 24 junior suites, all of which are fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology for audiovisual equipment, WiFi internet access and automated controls for lighting, curtains, temperature control and refreshment centers.

The lavish hospitality experience starts even before guests make it through the palace gates as they are introduced to a unique world of exclusivity the moment they land. Luggage retrieval and airport transfer via a luxury limousine driven by specially trained chauffeurs, ensures that every minute detail of their stay is taken care of,” de Beer said. A professionally trained staff of 17 butlers ensures that each and every individual need and request is fully met, he added.

“Our guests will be among the most discerning. Their needs will run the gamut of high tech solutions for global communications and conferencing, to dietary needs, to strictest privacy and security arrangements, and an entire array of individual considerations and preferences. This hotel is a palace, and it will be run as one; the service is not comparable to a hotel stay. The personal butler and round-the-clock housekeeping and dining services are all integral parts of any guest experience at Qasr Al-Sharq,” said de Beer who was accompanied by Director of Business Development Akram Shaar.

Interior designers spent an extensive time researching Arabesque designs and working to blend color and textures created specially for this palace. Its decorative ceilings boast 60 kg of gold leaf, which took six months to apply. A Swarovski chandelier graces the main staircase, with 600,000 crystals chained together, gilded in 24 carat gold and sparkling with 260 lights. Countless types and colors of marble were handpicked from around the world to create the mosaic-inspired flooring.

Haif Company in Riyadh conceived the entire project as a turnkey project from initial design stage through to the final construction, furnishing and decoration. Bice, an Italian restaurant serves traditional Italian food. Located on the second floor overlooking the Red Sea, it accommodates 96 seats with a private dining room for 12 guests. Mataam Al-Sharq Oriental restaurant serves Middle Eastern cuisine. Located on the second floor, and overlooking the Red Sea, it has 100 seats with private dining facilities available for 10 to 30 guests. “It’s our aim to establish the Palace as well as the Restaurants as the best in their fields,” said de Beer.