We all know that Saudi Arabia is investing an unprecedented amount of cash to spice up its tourism business. A giant a part of that is the Pink Sea Mission, which covers 28,000 sq. kilometers on the west coast of the nation, and consists of an archipelago of greater than 90 pure islands. The aim is to construct dozens of accommodations right here by 2030.
Many main luxurious resort teams have dedicated to opening properties right here, and it appears like the primary of those that’s bookable with factors has simply opened. Particularly, I’m speaking concerning the St. Regis Pink Sea Resort, which is the model’s second property within the nation, after the current opening of the St. Regis Riyadh.
Fundamentals of the St. Regis Pink Sea Resort
The St. Regis Pink Sea Resort is now open. It’s odd, as a result of I’ve seen no press launch or announcement of the opening, however the resort is accepting reservations for stays efficient instantly (due to @NDH330 for flagging this).
The St. Regis Pink Sea Resort is situated on a personal island, and options 90 beachfront and overwater villas, every with a personal pool. The entry stage seaside villas are the dune villas, marketed as being 75 sq. meters (807 sq. ft), with a bed room, eating space, residing space, and out of doors terrace with pool.
The entry stage overwater villas are the coral villas, marketed as being 79 sq. meters (850 sq. ft), with a bed room, eating space, residing space, and out of doors terrace with pool.
The resorts options a wide range of eating retailers, together with Nesma (a Center Japanese restaurant serving breakfast and lunch), Gishiki 45 (a Japanese restaurant serving dinner), Tilina (a steakhouse serving dinner), The Seaside Membership at St. Regis (serving mild bites and meals for lunch and dinner), and The St. Regis Bar (serving drinks and snacks… however no alcohol… for now).
The resort additionally options an out of doors pool, a signature St. Regis Spa, a health middle, and a youngsters’s membership.
For the reason that St. Regis Pink Sea Resort is on a personal island, you’ll be able to solely get there by seaplane or chartered yacht. The resort’s web site signifies that “distinctive transportation by the yacht is included in your room charge,” in order that’s good, at the very least.
The easiest way to get to the realm usually is to fly to Pink Sea Worldwide Airport (RSI), which is presently served by Saudia nonstop from Jeddah (JED) with 2x weekly flights and Riyadh (RUH) with 3x weekly flights.
St. Regis Pink Sea Resort charges & factors necessities
Charges on the St. Regis Pink Sea Resort are roughly what you’d anticipate, given that every one lodging listed below are villas with personal swimming pools. Charges presently appear to start out at ~$1,300 per evening, although get just a little cheaper if visiting in summer time. Charges for overwater villas presently begin at an additional ~$400 per evening.
I’m sort of shocked by this, however redeeming factors on the St. Regis Pink Sea Resort isn’t a very whole lot as of now. Factors charges appear to start out at north of 160,000 Bonvoy factors per evening. I worth Marriott Bonvoy factors at 0.7 cents every, so that you don’t come out all that a lot forward when redeeming factors.
The rationale I’m a bit shocked by the excessive factors price is as a result of I can’t think about this resort might be working excessive occupancy anytime quickly, and Marriott’s prices for redemptions replicate occupancy ranges at accommodations.
It’s going to be fascinating to see how this develops
I’m intrigued by Saudi Arabia’s try to develop its tourism business. That’s not as a result of I’m a cheerleader for Saudi Arabia, however reasonably as a result of we’ve by no means seen a rustic make investments a lot cash in tourism so shortly, all whereas admittedly having a little bit of a status problem within the West.
It’s unbelievable what number of accommodations are slated to open within the Pink Sea Mission within the close to future, from a 4 Seasons, to a Rosewood, to a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, to an EDITION, to a Miraval, to a Grand Hyatt, to an InterContinental, to a Fairmont, and plenty of extra.
Are you able to think about what it’s like to remain on the St. Regis Pink Sea proper now? You actually don’t have any clue what to anticipate, as there are primarily simply renderings of what the property ought to appear to be, with little about what it appears like in actual life. Moreover, the logistics simply don’t appear very ironed out but, given you presently have a complete of 5 weekly flights to this airport.
Are there visitors on the resort but? What are they like? Is the resort totally staffed? I’ve so many questions…
“Construct it and they’ll come,” they are saying. Effectively, Saudi Arabia has constructed it. Now we’ll see if they arrive…
Backside line
The St. Regis Pink Sea Resort has quietly opened as of early 2024. The property consists completely of beachfront and overwater villas. That is the primary main factors resort that I do know of to open as a part of the Pink Sea Mission.
The nation is hoping to finally make the Pink Sea an enormous vacationer hotspot, however as of now that’s nonetheless a piece in progress. I’m curious how this evolves…
What do you make of the St. Regis Pink Sea Resort?
