Marriott’s have announced that their first W hotel in Saudi Arabia will be built at the country’s new Trojena ski resort. They’ll also build a second Marriott with different branding at the resort.
Trojena is set to be Saudi Arabia’s first ski resort, located in the Tabuk region in the northwest of the country and near the Jordanian border, above the Gulf of Aqaba. It is a part of the larger NEOM mega city project as the country seeks to diversity from its oil based economy, using its vast income from global oil sales to finance it.
The exact details of how Trojena will get reliable snow have yet to be confirmed. The centre is being built in Saudi Arabia’s Sarawat Mountains which peak at over 2,500m and do get temperatures below freezing on occasion in winter, but the climate is very dry and the occasional dusting of snow short-lived.
However technologies that make snow in refrigerated units to spray onto slopes in positive temperatures continue to develop, as do techniques to store snow for use at locations where snow cover is more unpredictable, so making and maintaining snow is possible anywhere, it just becomes more expensive and energy intensive the warmer it is. It’s worth noting that the dry climate is favourable to snow production and that the NEOM development is due to be entirely carbon neutral.
Besides the ski slopes, it has been announced that Trojena will house other activities including a “futuristic water park.”
It is also unclear at what stage the construction of Trojena is currently at and whether construction work has begun. The project was announced several years ago with an opening date of “late 2026” mooted. It was also been awarded host status for the 2029 Asian Winter Games in 2029 before construction began.
Although there’s no timescale on construction of the Marriott W Trojena hotel, the company says it will be located within the development’s Lake Village and feature a spa and fitness centre, four restaurants, shops, entertainment areas, 236 guest rooms, including 47 suites, with views of the mountains and a freshwater lake.
The wider Lake Village at Trojena where the hotel is being built will be based around a 2.8km long lake that will also feature attractions including an “an enchanted forest” and watersports. The company’s second hotel, a 500 room JW Marriott Hotel, will be situated in The Bow water park, which Marriott International, will incorporate technology to create a natural living environment in the dry desert mountains. The hotel will feature a spa, swimming pools, fitness centre, kids club, five restaurants and a ballroom.
“Trojena redefines the understanding of ultra-luxury hospitality and mountain tourism. 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,” said Philip Gullett, Executive Director of Trojena.
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