Skift Travel News Blog

Short stories and posts about the daily news happenings around the travel industry.

Hotels

IDEAS: Six Senses Aims to Blend Heritage and Innovation at Southern Dunes, The Red Sea

4 months ago

Six Senses Southern Dunes, the Red Sea has officially opened in Saudi Arabia.

The Foster + Partners designed resort features 36 guest rooms and 40 pool villas that have been strategically placed to embrace the expansive views of the surrounding Arabian Desert.

Credit: Six Senses

According to Six Senses, the architecture and landscaping of the resort has been designed to ‘reflect the harmonious coexistence between Nabataean cultural roots and contemporary amenities,’ with the interiors reflecting the ‘tones and textures of the sandy dunes and soft furnishings drawing from the rich colors and patterns of traditional Bedouin tribal dress.’

Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea also aims to be the first LEED Platinum resort in Saudi Arabia, through a number of initiatives including electricity produced at a dedicated solar farm, a plastic-free policy, and chef’s garden for growing produce.

“Everything we’re doing here reflects our unwavering commitment to sustainability and cultural preservation, while also pushing the boundaries of adventure and wellness. This part of the world holds much intrigue for visitors and immense potential for regenerative tourism. We aim to showcase the unique beauty and cultural richness of this region, while promoting sustainable tourism practices that contribute to economic growth and heritage conservation,” said Fredrik Blomqvist, general manager of Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea in a press release.


Skift Ideas uncovers the most creative and forward-thinking innovations happening across travel. We celebrate innovation through our Skift IDEA Awards and hear from leaders on our Ideas podcast.

You can listen and subscribe to the Skift Ideas Podcast through your favorite podcast app here.

Venture Capital

European Venture Capital Fund Picks Up Hospitality and Airline Board Members

2 years ago

Roch Ventures, a European venture capital fund with Boston Consultant Group ties, announced that Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs, Ennismore Brand Chief Operating Officer Chadi Farhat, and former Air France Executive Vice President Amel Hammouda have joined the fund’s board of directors.

Bobby Demri, former Boston Consulting Group software innovation director, and Ludger Kuebel-Sorger, senior partner emeritus at Boston Consulting Group, co-founded the fund in January. It aims to make euro 100 million ($102 million) worth of investments in tourism and hospitality companies over the next few years with a focus on European tech and sustainability.

The fund is eyeing seed stage and Series A investments in Europe. It soon plans to open offices in Tel Avis and Frankfurt.