Hormuz Grand Hotel Muscat, Oman

BACKGROUND The Hormuz Grand Hotel, Muscat, is one of two Middle Eastern hotels under Carlson Rezidor’s luxury Quorvus Collection. Just over a year after its opening in September 2014, the 231-room hotel joined the collection of “expertly curated luxury hotels” alongside the Symphony Style Hotel Kuwait and G&V Royal Mile Hotel Edinburgh. At launch, Rezidor described the hotel as a “solid platform to develop this collection of carefully selected properties further in the Middle East & Turkey”. WHAT’S IT LIKE? East-meets-east with the Hormuz’s Indian and Middle Eastern design, in which a large open-topped courtyard and an opulent decorative pool is befitting of the ‘Grand’ name. The pool is beautifully lined with trees and shrubs and the courtyard, with its mountainous backdrop, makes a striking setting. The hotel lobby is huge and open, and the overall ambiance is one of laid-back elegance. Reception service was efficient and welcoming and quick to act upon any request. The surrounding area remains mostly desert, which does leave the hotel feeling somewhat isolated. However, apparent building work indicates that future development is in progress. WHERE IS IT? Located almost directly opposite Muscat International Airport, it is around a 20-minute drive to the capital’s central business district and the city’s famed Sultan Qaboos Mosque. There’s little to explore in the immediate vicinity so you’ll need to hire a car or taxi to explore the city. ROOM FACILITIES Guests can choose from one of four room categories, ranging from deluxe to executive suites, while there is one Hormuz Grand Suite for VIPs. My 80sqm executive suite was one of 10 and consisted of a king-sized bed, 42” HD Tv, while the lounge contained a small dining table and soft furnishings. Guests have a choice between a courtyard or a mountain view, though the dark interior and subdued décor does make the bedroom appear somewhat smaller in size. My room did not contain any of the expected tea and coffee-making facilities or a minibar despite a description to the contrary on its website, though several bottles of water were provided. Though on the small side, the bathroom was decadent enough with a large walk-in shower and deep bathtub. RESTAURANTS AND BARS The dimly lit Qureshi Bab-Al-Hind functions as the hotel’s signature restaurant and bar. Specialising in North Indian cuisine, the lobby-level restaurant has an extensive menu covering a wide-range of starters, mains and Indianstyle desserts. Complimentary poppadoms are served in abundance alongside a number of lentil and chutneybased dips. Service is attentive and efficient and waiting staff are mindful of guests’ spice-level preferences. The restaurant opens out onto a wide terrace overlooking the courtyard, which makes for a particularly tranquil setting for an evening nightcap. Beverages and free appetizers are also served at the sleek bar ,The Vault, next door.

At the courtyard level is The Straits, an all-day restaurant, where an extensive breakfast and lunch buffet catering to Arabic, Indian and western cuisines is served. A set menu is available in the evening and a wide-selection of in-room dishes can be ordered around the clock. Another restaurant specialising in New Yorkinspired dining is scheduled to open at the end of September. MEETING FACILITIES The Hormuz is well served for conference visitors; the Zaiba Ballroom can accommodate 450 guests, while another 200 can be seated in the Sacra room. There are also two meeting rooms, two boardrooms and a pair of interview rooms, along with range of hi-tech equipment, including projectors, screens and sound systems. LEISURE FACILITIES A deep blue pool is nicely positioned next to the courtyard’s fountain with enough sheltering to take refuge from the summer heat, and there is a separate child’s pool nearby. The Thai iSpa provides a number of treatments and massages, including a 90-minute sports massage in a beautifully decorated facility. A 24-hour gym is also available with a number of machines and weights. Eleanor Dickinson VERDICT An understated charm with an indulgent F&B offering that’s perfect for the flyin-fly-out traveller.