The Banyan Tree Desert Spa & Resort, part of the US$ 750 million Al Areen development (Al Areen), today announced the appointment of Mr. Arno Nicolussi-Moretto as the General Manager of the US$ 140 million spa and resort.
Mr. Arno brings to Banyan Tree Desert Spa & Resort: Al Areen extensive global and regional expertise in running five-star hotels and resorts. Prior to joining Banyan Tree Desert Spa & Resort, Mr. Arno jointly held the post of General Manager of The Swissotel Beijing and the Huaxia Swissotel Management Ltd., China - both managed by Raffles International.
Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Esam Janahi, Vice Chairman of the Al Areen Holding Company, said: “Mr. Arno joins Banyan Tree Desert Spa & Resort: Al Areen at a crucial phase of its project cycle: the pre-launch phase. His vast experience, expertise and knowledge in the sector will contribute and add value to the development of the spa and resort.”
The Banyan Tree Desert Spa & Resort is at the heart of the first phase of the overall Al Areen development - the mixed-use two million square meter integrated project. The spa and resort is the first venture for Banyan Tree in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and is a cornerstone of the company's Middle East expansion strategy.
Commenting on his new assignment, Mr. Arno Nicolussi-Moretto said: “The Banyan Tree Desert Spa & Resort: Al Areen is aimed at raising the bar of hospitality and wellness in Bahrain in addition to adding considerable value to its investment landscape. Furthermore, its distinctive project positioning in the regional hospitality sector will also add a new dimension to regional tourism. I am extremely proud to be part of this magnificent project.”
Upon completion, the Banyan Tree Desert Spa & Resort: Al Areen will span 130,000 square meters. It will feature 78 luxurious villas (22 presidential two-bedroom and 56 single-bedroom villas) complete with private gardens, swimming pool and Jacuzzi.
Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, the world’s largest luxury resort and spa operator, which will operate and manage the Banyan Tree Desert Spa & Resort: Al Areen, will also incorporate its world-famous Saffron restaurant into the dynamic landscape of the resort.
The main spa complex will provide facilities such as the advanced hydro-therapy treatment center, a private deluxe spa pavilion and a dramatic swimming pool flowing from inside the complex to an open-air sports and recreational courtyard. It will also house a range of specialised medical and therapeutic treatments, signature massage and beauty services, conference facilities, a library, and a children's play area.
Born in 1964, Mr. Arno is a Certified Hotel Administrator from Vienna and has graduated with honours in the Hotel Management Program from Hotel College Schloss Klessheim in Salzburg, Austria. He started his career in the hospitality industry in 1988, as an Assistant Banquet Manager at the Hilton – Vienna.
His career experience spans tenures at The Swissotel Beijing – China (General Manager), The Ritz – Taipei (General Manager), The Inter-Continental Hotel & VIP Villas – Riyadh (Resident Manager) and The Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai (Senior Management and Corporate).
About Al Areen development
The US$ 750 million Al Areen development is a vast and luxurious mixed-use health and family tourism development, located in the southern region of the Kingdom of Bahrain, next to the Al Areen Wildlife Sanctuary and close to the Bahrain International Circuit. Anchored around a spa and resort, operated by Banyan Tree, and a world-class water park, the project will develop a two-million square meter desert area to provide over two thousand five hundred villas and apartments, a large shopping mall, and hotels. The site is located within a thirty-five minute drive from the Bahrain International Airport, and is approximately twenty minutes from the King Fahad Causeway and the central business district.
