Hilton's first Palace Hotel set to offer guests unparalleled luxury and hospitality

The palace, set to open in Jeddah next month (March 2006), is currently taking delivery of an array of furnishings, accessories, and artwork that is sure to be admired by connoisseurs from around the world.

Opulent details adorning every corner of the hotel and a highly personalised butler service will enhance a feeling of pure indulgence and a true sense of luxury. Handpicked crystal and porcelain china, intricate mosaics, upholstery of the finest fabrics from around the globe, and fine art are all unique aspects of Qasr al Sharq or 'Palace of the Orient', the super luxury accommodation offering located adjacent to the Jeddah Hilton.

"The design brief was to create an authentic Arabian palace of unparalleled luxury, representative of the opulence and hospitality associated with historical Arabia. Palace interior designers spent extensive time researching arabesque design and working to blend colour and texture created specially for Qasr al Sharq. We want our guests to be completely enveloped; this is not just about a nice hotel room, it is an entire sensory experience,"

said Marc De Beer, Hotel Manager, Qasr al Sharq.

The Palace's decorative ceilings boast 60 Kg of gold leaf, which took six months to painstakingly apply. Countless types and colors of marble were hand-picked from around the world to create mosaic-inspired flooring.

1,200 crystal vases designed in Italy in more than 25 different designs will be accentuated throughout the Palace, and guests will be able to choose from five different types of chinaware including Raynaud, Rosenthal and Artichaut.

All beds are adorned with 600-thread count cotton linens designed in Venice. The texture resembles satin, and gold thread embroidery is custom designed to compliment the room décor. Each duvet cover has more then one million stitched threads of this fine gold embroidery. Bathroom amenities include leading international brands Hermes and Acqua de Parma, and a variety of 20 different oriental-scented soaps have been ordered exclusively for the Palace bathrooms.

The interiors of Qasr al Sharq were designed by KCA International, an internationally renowned interior design firm, with prestigious projects in its portfolio including Dubai's Burj Al Arab, and the Madinat Jumeirah hotels and souq complex, and more recently, concourses within the new Dubai International Airport.

"The Arabian Gulf region has many flavours, and served as our inspiration in designing the Palace. From the opulent oriental décor of the restaurant, to classical arches we utilise Arabian design traditions such as mashrabeyah traditional woodwork and specialised plaster and metalwork combined with rich upholstery fabrics from around the East and West. Artwork was chosen specially for each guest suite," explained Khuan Chew, from KCA International.