Marriott International has signed an agreement with NEOM to open two luxury properties in Trojena, NEOM’s mountain destination located in the north-west region of Saudi Arabia. The agreement includes Saudi Arabia’s first W Hotel, and a JW Marriott property.
“We are excited to work with NEOM to develop these two exciting properties in one of the most highly anticipated developments in the world,” said Chadi Hauch, regional vice president, of lodging development, Middle East, Marriott International. “W Hotels continues to redefine the luxury hospitality sector, and NEOM is an ideal fit with its vision centred around innovation, creativity, design and exploration, while JW Marriott, one of our flagship brands, will bring its legacy of extraordinary hospitality, thoughtful design and enriching experiences.”
W Hotel in Trojena
The W Hotel in Trojena is anticipated to feature 236 guest rooms, including 47 suites, with mountain and lake views. Design plans for the property comprise signature brand spaces including a Living Room, WET Deck, W Lounge, AWAY Spa, and FIT fitness center. The hotel is also expected to offer four dining destinations and retail space. The property will be situated within the region’s Lake Village which aims to deliver residential, hospitality, and commercial experiences directly at the water’s edge. The 2.8-kilometer-long architectural lake will be a destination that is expected to feature forest and adventures on the waterfront. The Lake Village will also be home to a range of retail and dining offerings, food and shopping markets, and entertainment areas.
JW Marriott Hotel in Trojena
JW Marriott Hotel will be situated in The Bow which is anticipated to be a “futuristic water world which will combine nature with technology to make for a unique living environment,” Marriott says. It adds the property as the expected to be immersed inside the lake and surrounded by a mountainscape, the substructure will be designed to withstand the weight and pressure of the surrounding water while remaining spaces will be adaptable to allow for multi-season use including an atrium capable of hosting largescale events. Plans for the hotel include 500 luxury rooms and suites, and entertainment and recreational offerings including a ballroom, meeting spaces, five dining venues, a fitness club, a kids club, swimming pools, and a spa.
“With its central location, high elevation mountain landscape up to 2,600 meters, and natural surroundings, Trojena redefines the understanding of ultra-luxury hospitality and mountain tourism,” said Philip Gullett, executive director of Trojena. “We are delighted to have two of Marriott International’s iconic brands at the forefront of luxury travel, W Hotels and JW Marriott, join us to elevate the travel experience for discerning guests.”
“The JW Marriott will be paramount in positioning Trojena as a class-leading venue for major global conferences and exhibitions, as well as high profile events, while W Hotels will transform the way visitors of our mountain destination enjoy entertainment, culture, and culinary experiences. Marriott International shares our vision for shaping a new frontier for the industry, and we look forward to strengthening our relationship by bringing two of its renowned hotel brands to Trojena,” said Chris Newman, executive director of NEOM Hotel Development.
TROJENA: Timelines and details
Trojena, one of the flagship developments within NEOM, is being developed and positioned as a year-round adventure sports destination that will include destination will consist of a series of facilities such as the ski village, a wide range of retail stores and restaurants, in addition to sports activities, including a ski slope, watersports and mountain biking, as well as an interactive nature reserve. The project is set for completion by 2026 and will be the host of the 2029 Asian Winter Games. Along with a W Hotel and JW Marriott property, the development is expected to include apartments, chalets, retail, dining, and entertainment areas.
TROJENA will be made up of six districts: Gateway, Discover, Valley, Explore, Relax and Fun, all of which are designed to offer activities catering to a variety of tastes and needs. It will be developed according to architectural specifications that consider environmental sustainability, preservation of all living organisms and nature.
To enrich the lives and enhance the well-being of residents and visitors, the development, in accordance with international standards, will feature sports, art, music, cultural festivals and a range of recreational activities. TROJENA expects to attract 700,000 visitors and 7,000 permanent residents to live in TROJENA and its adjacent residential districts by 2030.
Highlights of the development include the all-year ski village; a man-made freshwater lake; ‘The Bow’ Hotel, an architectural element that will offer a hotel experience; and the Vault, a vertical village within the mountain with a fusion of technology, entertainment and hospitality facilities that will provide the main gateway into TROJENA.
An ultra-luxury powerhouse
In June this year, Minor Hotels confirmed that an Anantara Trojena resort will open within NEOM. The luxurious hotel will have a big focus on its spa offering, and adds to a growing list of super-hotels earmarked for the Middle Eastern ski holiday haven. To add to this, NEOM this year also announced a third hotel for ski retreat Trojena. The Chedi Trojena will be located atop the Gulf snow retreat, a focal point of the giga-project’s Slope Residences.
The US$500bn city is also considering creating its own hospitality brand. While NEOM was expected to start announcing hotels by this year and opening them next year, the TROJENA boss said the site is very close to confirming its first hotel operators. “You don’t get the chance to create something from a blank sheet of paper and that’s what we’re doing. We’re close to appointing the first hotel operators. We’ve got Aedas appointed to design our ski village and there are two hotels in that first phase. So, we have to make sure we get the hospitality brand and the design right in our buildings, in order to suit those hotel operators or brands that we develop ourselves,” he had said.