Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is set to manage and rebrand Cairo’s historic Shepheard Hotel, marking the ultra-luxury hospitality company’s entry into Egypt.
The Shepheard Hotel first opened its doors in 1841 and remains a landmark in the city. The hotel closed on 1 February 2014 for renovations and has been idle until early March 2020 when the Egyptian General Company for Tourism and Hotels (EGOTH) inked a contract with the Saudi AlSharif Group Holding to restore the structure.
An extensive renovation is already underway and Paris-based interior designer, Sybille de Margerie, is tasked with preserving the building’s heritage design while enhancing the facilities and services. Upon completion, currently anticipated for 2024, the hotel will re-open as Mandarin Oriental Shepheard, Cairo.
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Perched on the eastern shore of The Nile river, in the heart of downtown Cairo, the property will offer 188 rooms and 88 suites, many with balconies, providing excellent views over the city, the Nile and Gezira island.
The hotel is ideally located to explore the city’s attractions such as the historical Egyptian Museum, Khan el-Khalili Souq and Al-Azhar Mosque, and provides easy access to the river, key commercial buildings, and vibrant shopping, restaurants and cafés.
Mandarin Oriental Shepheard, Cairo will offer five restaurants and bars, including a rooftop restaurant for al fresco dining, as well as an exclusive club lounge.
An all-encompassing Spa at Mandarin Oriental will provide eight treatment suites. Further wellness facilities include an indoor lap pool, a rooftop swimming pool, a beauty salon, fitness centre and a kid’s club.
James Riley, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental said, “We are delighted to extend Mandarin Oriental’s renowned levels of hospitality into Egypt and to work with Al Sharif Group Holding on bringing this iconic and historic hotel back to life.
“The project presents an ideal opportunity to further grow our brand in the Middle East & Africa, and we look forward to creating many unique experiences for our guests,” Riley said.
“Mandarin Oriental is an award-winning international brand, renowned for its exemplary service and attention to detail” said Nawaf Faiz Al-Sharif, President of Al-Sharif Group. “They are the ideal partner for this unique project, and we look forward to working together on enhancing Cairo’s appeal and creating the most sophisticated luxury hotel in the city,” he added.
Lead image credit: Manuel Jimenez / Unsplash