The historic Shepheard Hotel in Cairo, Egypt, will be rebranded by the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, according to an announcement made today. With the opening of its first hotel in Egypt, The Luxury Collection will be able to further grow its presence in the area.
The storied Shepheard Hotel initially opened its doors in 1841 and continues to be a landmark in the city, revered by the local community, and well-known across the world. Renovations to the facility are already underway, with interior designer Sybille de Margerie from Paris entrusted with respecting the building’s original architecture while also improving the amenities and services on offer. The hotel will reopen as the Mandarin Oriental Shepheard, Cairo after the renovations are completed, which is expected to be in 2024.
The complex, which will be located on the eastern coast of the Nile river in the center of Downtown Cairo, will include 188 rooms and 88 suites, many of which will have balconies with spectacular views of the city, the Nile, and Gezira island. With easy access to the river, significant commercial buildings, and busy shopping, restaurants, and cafés, the hotel is an excellent starting point for exploring the city’s famous attractions, which include the ancient Egyptian Museum, Khan el-Khalili Souq, and Al-Azhar Mosque.
The Mandarin Oriental Shepheard, Cairo will include five restaurants and bars, including a rooftop restaurant for al fresco dining as well as an exclusive club lounge, according to the hotel’s website. As well as spacious event rooms, including a rooftop ballroom, the hotel will serve as an excellent venue for conventions and social gatherings of all kinds.
There will be eight treatment suites available at the Mandarin Oriental Spa, which will give the personalised experiences and distinctive treatments for which the Group is well-known. Additional health amenities include an indoor lap pool, a rooftop swimming pool, a beauty salon, a workout center, and a children’s club, among other things.
The project developer is Al Sharif for Tourist industry and Hotels, an Egyptian Closed Joint Stock Company that is a subsidiary of Al Sharif Group Holding, a Saudi holding group based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which was awarded the concession to redevelop the location from the Egyptian General Company for Tourism and Hotels in 2020. Al Sharif for Tourism and Hotels is a subsidiary of Al Sharif Group Holding, which is based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Mr. James Riley, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental, said that the company was “delighted” to bring the renowned standards of hospitality of Mandarin Oriental to Egypt, as well as to collaborate with the Al Sharif Group Holding on bringing this iconic and historic hotel back to life.
The project is an excellent chance for us to expand our brand’s presence throughout the Middle East and Africa, and we look forward to providing our guests with a variety of memorable experiences.”
According to Mr Nawaf Faiz Al-Sharif, President of Al-Sharif Group, “Mandarin Oriental is an award-winning worldwide brand, famous for its excellent service and attention to detail.” As he said, “They are the appropriate partner for this unique project, and we look forward to working together on improving Cairo’s attractiveness and developing the most sophisticated luxury hotel in the city.”
