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OMAN - Tourism

Rene D. Egle

Area General Manager, Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah and Shangri-La Al Husn, Muscat

Bio

Rene D. Egle has extensive experience in running successful international high-end hotel operations. He has worked in Europe, China, Hong Kong, the Middle East and Southeast Asia in hotel such as Shangri-La in Oman, the Philippines, Mauritius, Maldives, the UAE, and Jakarta; Swissotel in Beijing; the Kempinski Hotel in Beijing; and the Sheraton Belgravia in London, among several others.

"We are fortunate to have two properties with two different identity and markets: families and the luxury upmarket adults-only resort."
Two different and unique destinations in Oman, Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah and Shangri-La Al Husn, Muscat offer guests unparalleled luxury, F&B, and relaxing options no matter their tastes.
Could you give us an overview of the resorts? What are the main features and spaces?

The entire complex of 124 acres consists of three hotels, with a total of 640 rooms and suites, which all fall under one main brand with two separate entities: Shangri-La Al Husn, Muscat, and Shangri-La Bar Al Jissah, Muscat. Shangri-La Al Husn, Muscat is the upper luxury five-star hotel that majestically sits on the clifftop with breathtaking views of the Sea of Oman. It is the singular adults-only resort in Muscat for guests over 16 years old with Club benefits exclusive to its guests and which include complimentary daily afternoon tea at Sultanah, aperitif hour in the Courtyard with live entertainment, complimentary beverages and snacks from the in-room mini-bar and use of the resort’s private beach, the only Luban Spa in Oman and complimentary access to the facilities of the adjacent Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah, Muscat such as Chi, The Spa, the vibrant dining venues and bars, and other leisure activities. Shangri La Barr Al Jissah is a dual resort complex with two destinations: Al Waha Oasis is a family and friends focused destination that is beautifully set around a series of stunning swimming pools framed by rustling palm trees; and Al-Bandar, the luxurious beachfront town at the heart of Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah, which is perfect for couples, groups of friends, or business travelers who like to be in the midst of all the action and plan to make use of the resort’s extensive dining and meeting facilities including ballroom and function rooms.

What types of events does the hotel hold?

The complex can cater for a comprehensive range of events from intimate ones to big celebrations and corporate functions, given the size and the various outdoor possibilities and venues that can be explored from beach, garden, amphitheater to ballroom and function rooms. At the moment, we are leveraging our visibility on the celebrations of big weddings at our hotel, and we are targeting mainly the local and Indian markets. There are some preferred destinations for Indian wedding celebrations, and Shangri-La Muscat has all the facilities required to host such big weddings.

How are you differentiating yourselves from your competitors in the GCC or Middle East?

We are fortunate to have two properties with two different identity and markets: families and the luxury upmarket adults-only resort. We provide culinary experiences with more than 10 different types of cuisines under one roof. Our complex has multiple experiences for couples, family, high-end clientele, and gourmet lovers. Shangri-La Muscat is a destination within a destination itself, and we are working toward elevating guests’ experiences through the local sense of place. We have also launched in 2022 the Luban Spa, the first in Oman and using solely frankincense. To further enhance our guests’ journey whilst they stay with us, we offer a bespoke collection of transfer modes, from a collection of 35-40 vintage cars to a swift helicopter transfer.

What are your expectations and goals for the short term?

We are working on a complete repositioning of our F&B concepts, and in November we launched Aangan by Rohit Ghai. Rohit is an internationally acclaimed chef based in London, and he has partnered with us to open his first restaurant in the Middle East. We are looking at attracting diners who have a flair for fine dining but in a casual setting. We are also looking at showcasing our diversity of cuisines through our own chefs who run their distinctive venues with an authentic concept. We are also the first hotel in Oman to implement the zero-proof cocktails to give our guests an alcohol-free way to enjoy an elegant cocktail. In terms of sustainability, the resort has already launched its single-use plastics campaign with a long-term commitment to remove the use of plastics within the compound of the resort.

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