Chris · May 14, 2008
Right across the Nile from my home neighbourhood of Zamalek lies Fairmont Hotels & Resort’s newest property in Cairo, the Fairmont Nile City. The building, which is currently under construction, is a very impressive structure that sits between two high-end gilded office towers that make up the upscale Nile City commercial and retail complex. Nile City is HQ for many serious players in Cairo’s business community, and no doubt the hotel will quickly become a focal point for Egypt’s business elite.
Fairmont Nile City will be an uber-luxurious five star hotel (even by Fairmont standards), weighing in at 567 rooms. According to the Hotel Management Network, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts (FHR) have entered into a joint venture with the Nile City Investments Company (NCIC) to outfit and manage the property. FHR and the Kingdom Hotel Investment Group (KHI) have invested approximately $10M for an interest of 15 percent each. Development cost for the Nile City hotel is estimated to be approximately $80M USD.
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Inside the Fairmont Nile City
The property is slated to open later this year under the leadership of veteran Fairmont G.M. Frank Naboulsi. Before arriving in Egypt, Mr. Naboulsi was the G.M. of the Fairmont Dallas where he was an instrumental force behind the dicey (and successful) evacuation of hotel guests at the (former) Fairmont New Orleans during hurricane Katrina in 2005. I had a chance to meet with Frank recently for coffee and I heard the incredible story behind the tenuous situation in New Orleans, which included a heavily armed Navy Seal escort and many, many, tense moments.
The New Orleans scenario is most certainly the stuff of movies, and clearly this was a case of life being stranger than fiction. Mr. Naboulsi is the kind of charismatic G.M. who actively reaches out to, and partners with the local community at every opportunity. When a crisis hits, this is the kind of G.M. who can make things happen. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Frank actually trained with members of the Navy Seals!
The Fairmont Nile City is in high-gear construction mode, which is currently in full swing. Yesterday I was very fortunate to have an insider tour of the hotel with Nassiba Zouinati, Director of Rooms at Nile City. Nassiba transferred to Cairo from the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, and she was a wonderful ambassador for the property. Nassiba introduced me to many key players on Fairmont’s leadership team, and she walked me through the myriad luxury accoutrements the hotel will boast. Panoramic elevators, luxury car service, butlers on call, personalized service around every corner—this hotel is going to have it all.
Check out a quick drive-by capture of the hotel’s facade:
Food and beverage offerings include what will quickly become some of Cairo’s most anticipated outlets. The O Bar will open as a Jazz style cigar and sushi bar on the lobby level, and Saigon Blu will be a top-notch Vietnamese restaurant. Rihan will be a coffee and tea inspired lobby lounge, and the Napa Grill will feature California-modern cuisine for three meal periods—as well as an extensive California wine inventory. Sky Bar and the Sky Pool are located on the 25th floor of the Fairmont Nile City adjacent to the pool and health club. Sky Bar will be a trendy hot-spot hosting international DJ’s, and serving Lebanese cuisine.
Fairmont Nile City’s overall design motif will be heavily influenced by the Art Deco movement, which will also be reflected in guestrooms with rich brown and black tones and extensive dark marble accents and leather throughout the hotel. Sounds like a nightmare for housekeeping, but will definitely be a dramatic, sexy design scheme. I love Art Deco design so I’m excited to see what’s in store for the Nile City. Think New York’s Chrysler Building, and Vancouver’s awesome Marine Building for a little design inspiration.
Posh design elements are going to be incredibly important for Fairmont Nile City’s ability to be competitive in Cairo’s top-heavy luxury hotel market, but service will have to be Fairmont’s unique selling proposition. Service, of course, is orchestrated and delivered by people, and it is Nile City’s people that will be Fairmont’s competitive advantage. During my hotel tour yesterday I met with most of Nile City’s senior management team, and I was struck by their graciousness and enthusiasm. Leadership is young, vibrant and passionate—something that I believe is somewhat atypical in the local market.
My experiences relating to hotel service in Egypt so far (Cairo, Sharm El Sheik and Ain Soukhna) have leveled somewhere between horrific and completely average. If the Nile City can deliver on Fairmont’s promise of “turning moments in to memories”, this hotel is going to re-define what can be achieved in Cairo.
In a recent post, Onsea House revealed some interesting information about expansion plans from German-born 
