The Residence Douz – opening in Q3 2020

 

October 2019: The Residence by Cenizaro, has announced plans to open its second hotel in the North African country of Tunisia in Q3 2020 – The Residence Douz - with two more hotels planned to follow in the next three years.

The Residence Douz
Following in the footsteps of the first property in Tunisia, The Residence Tunis, which opened in 1996 and is a firm favourite with families visiting the destination, The Residence Douz will open in Q3 2020 and will be the first desert resort in the brand’s portfolio - surrounded by golden sands and serving as a gateway to the Sahara, where the desert’s resounding silence is an elixir for the soul.

Offering a new concept of accommodation in southern Tunisia, guests at The Residence Douz will be welcomed by glowing lanterns illuminating the palace doors as they enter the all-suite oasis immersed in the desert, with only 50 desert-inspired villas within 14 hectares of rolling sand dunes and palm trees.

Each villa references local design and aesthetic including the use of patterned bricks of Tozeur, handwoven carpets under the four-poster bed and an outdoor canvas canopy to shade the private terrace and swimming pool from the desert sun.

Tunisia is an amalgamation of worldwide influences and cuisines which will be reflected in the hotel’s dining. From the Mediterranean inspired restaurant and traditional Tunisian restaurant, to the international cuisine, the three new dining spaces offer delicious flavours for guests and residents alike.

The Thalasso Spa at sister property The Residence Tunis is well known in the region and the Spa at The Residence Douz will be no exception. Guests can expect a large hammam, 8 treatment rooms and 8 scrub rooms, spa lounge and Turkish baths, with each space featuring local artwork and furnishings.

For families, the new kids club will have an observatory tower, great for spotting wildlife such as Fennecs and Gazelles in the desert, a paddling pool and multiple playrooms. Outside the resort, experience the adventure of camel rides on the vast expanse of golden dunes, take excursions to locations made famous by Star Wars - including the Troglodytes of Matmata, cave-like dwellings dug into the mountains - the immense salt lake of Chott El-Jerid and Jbil Nature Park.

Tunisia on the up
Thanks to the ongoing recovery of the tourism sector in Tunisia over the past year, which has been gaining momentum since the previous crisis, Invest in Tunisia confirmed that the country expects an economic growth of 3.5% in 2019, compared to 2.9% in 2018.

The confidence of tourists visiting the country has resulted in 8.3 million visitors in 2018, in comparison to the 7 million who visited in 2017 – an increase of 17.7% - and this year looks even more positive, according to a report published by the Ministry of Tourism.

The tourism industry already accounts for more than 8% of the Tunisian gross domestic product (GDP) while the country expects to reach the record number of 9 million visitors in 2019. Overall revenue for the tourism industry reached more than 3.9 billion dollars ($1.4 billion) in 2018, an increase of 42.1% over 2017, and overnight stays totalled 26.1 million, up 22.8% from 2017.

City & coastal – two new hotels planned in Tunisia
With more and more visitors travelling back to Tunisia, The Residence by Cenizaro wants to continue investing in this thriving and historical country to offer hotels to suit all tastes and requirements. In addition to The Residence Douz, the brand will be opening a hotel in The Medina of Tunis, as well as an island off the east coast of Tunisia, Djerba Island, meaning from desert, to city, to beach, all guests are catered for. The Residence Tunis will also see an expansion onto an adjacent plot next to the hotel.

The Medina of Tunis will be the first city property in The Residence by Cenizaro portfolio situated at the heart of the UNESCO protected city in the bustling market streets. Following this, Djerba Island is scheduled to open on Djerba island for guests looking for a more remote offering, away from the city, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

Gary Xie, Director for Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts, said: “The idea with our Tunisia expansion with Douz, Djerba Island and The Medina of Tunis, and the existing hotel, is to be able to provide a bespoke 5-star luxury experience across all four properties in the intimate style and service of The Residence by Cenizaro brand. The resorts offer unique settings from the Sahara Desert to the cultural enclave of Medina to the seaside setting of Djerba, so this would be an extraordinary all-engaging discovery of all Tunisia, The Residence by Cenizaro way.”

For more information, please visit www.cenizaro.com/theresidence

The confidence of tourists visiting the country has resulted in 8.3 million visitors in 2018, in comparison to the 7 million who visited in 2017 – an increase of 17.7% - and this year looks even more positive, according to a report published by the Ministry of Tourism.

The tourism industry already accounts for more than 8% of the Tunisian gross domestic product (GDP) while the country expects to reach the record number of 9 million visitors in 2019. Overall revenue for the tourism industry reached more than 3.9 billion dollars ($1.4 billion) in 2018, an increase of 42.1% over 2017, and overnight stays totalled 26.1 million, up 22.8% from 2017.

Press Information

Notes to Editor:
The Residence by Cenizaro: The Residence Tunis, opened in 1996 with 161 rooms and 9-suites. The Residence Mauritius followed in 1998 with 135 rooms and 28 suites and in 2011, The Residence Zanzibar, a 66-villa property opened. The Residence Maldives at Falhumaafushi was unveiled in 2012 with 94-villas. In February 2018, The Residence Bintan opened with 127 villas and The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah opened in June 2019 with 173 water and beach villas. The Residence Douz in Tunisia is set to open in late 2020. The opening of The Residence Douz will take The Residence by Cenizaro’s hotel portfolio to seven - Mauritius, Tunis, Douz, Zanzibar, Bintan, Falhumaafuhsi in the Maldives and Dhigurah in the Maldives. Further expansion is planned over the next two years with two more hotels in Tunisia – The Medina of Tunis and Djerba Island.

Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts
A leading international hospitality company with a multi-branded portfolio of independent luxury hotel properties in some of the world’s most desirable locations. Whilst each establishment reflects a distinct individual personality and sense of place, every hotel in the family embodies the legendary hallmark of excellence the world has come to know; attention to detail, and intuitive, personal and discreet customer service. One of Singapore’s and Australia’s leading hotels, Sheraton Towers Singapore and Four Points by Sheraton Perth, forms part of Cenizaro’s portfolio of hotels. Offering management and professional services for luxury hotels and resorts, spa and residential developments, Cenizaro is inspired by a total dedication to enriching experiences, and a commitment to excellence that is evident across every element of its business. The Residence by Cenizaro hotel portfolio are part of the Ultratravel Collection; the most luxurious hotels in the Global Hotel Alliance’s DISCOVERY loyalty programme.

Global Hotel Alliance
Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) is the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands, bringing together more than 30 brands with over 550 hotels in 75 countries. GHA uses a shared technology platform to drive incremental revenues and create cost savings for its member brands. GHA’s award-winning loyalty programme, DISCOVERY, provides 15 million members exclusive opportunities to immerse themselves in local culture wherever they travel. For more information, visit globalhotelalliance.com