The Four Seasons to open its door in San Stefano before the month is over. A few days before I made the two-hour trip to Alexandria to tour the Four Seasons Hotel's new property in San Stefano, a colleague, learning the purpose of my trip, said with unwavering conviction: "It'll be out of business in two years max. I shrugged my shoulders. My impulse was to disagree, but at the same time I attended university in Alexandria and spent a good part of my childhood in boarding school there. "He could be right, I thought. "Even Alexandrians flee their city in the summer and the tourists prefer Cairo, Sinai or the Red Sea. What does Alex have to offer to the well-heeled Four Seasons clientele? A lot more than meets the eye, it seems - at least according to Stephan Killinger, the general manager of the new property. "I love the climate here, says Killinger, who has been with the Four Seasons chain since 2000. Before heading San Stefano in May 2006, he was resort manager at the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay. He admits, however, it will take some time before Alexandria regains its position in the Egyptian market and becomes a draw to the foreign traveler. "But what we're creating here is a destination, he says. And as it seems, very soon, a trip to the coastal Mediterranean city will be incomplete without a meal or a drink at the 19-floor luxury hotel, whose soft opening is slated for June 25. Although the Spa and Wellness center will not be complete then, when it is, it will be the only one of its kind in Alexandria, offering a range of workout equipment in the gym, a whirlpool, steam and sauna as well as a comprehensive menu of health and beauty treatments. Separate indoor treatment facilities for men and women guarantee the utmost privacy. With only 118 of the Four Seasons' signature spacious rooms, including 32 suites, the hotel is relatively small, which adds to the home-away-from-home concept. Tastefully designed by Pierre Yves Rochon, the chic decor is enhanced by traditional Egyptian accents and spacious Roman-style marble bathrooms. They are also fitted with high-speed Internet and wireless access. Most of the rooms overlook the ocean and the hotel's private beach and marina, which will be connected to the hotel via an underground tunnel to ensure absolute convenience. All that aside, Killinger believes that the history of San Stefano alone is enough of a draw. "That's why they call Alexandria the capital of memories, he says. "To foreigners Alexandria is associated with Cleopatra and Cesar, with the Pharaohs and the Romans and when you read about the history, it's fascinating. you would look at the eastern harbor, for example, and think of what it used to be. Eventually, Alexandria will be more than a day trip. The Bibliotheca and the underwater antiquities discovered in the past few years have helped boost traffic to the city already. "We will be marketing the hotel to Egyptians and Middle Eastern tourists as a summerscape destination for the family. Over time, we will have Europeans, especially Greek families who may come back looking for their roots, says Killinger, adding that the hotel is a hybrid, attracting the corporate sector for conferences, and holidaymakers to its summer resort facilities. He stresses that much research has gone into the food and beverage offerings to reflect the diversity of the city. "The hotel will introduce a new concept of food and beverage when it comes to variety and different tastes, he says. He points out that for such a small operation, nine restaurants is quite a large number, with options ranging from Mediterranean, Italian and Lebanese cuisine, and settings as diverse as casual poolside dining to elegant, sophisticated dining venues. A highlight is the opulent Lebanese restaurant whose walls are all padded with fabric and whose handmade wooden doors are inlaid with mother-of-pearl by master craftsmen in Lebanon. The fine dining option will certainly be a first in Alex, where most eateries are extremely casual. But one of the main challenges the hotel will face are the expectations of the market. "This is the first Four Seasons hotel overlooking the Mediterranean. Many people will wonder how it will be perceived, but many others will know what to expect. It took a lot of vision to create something like this. Another problem is that people think of Alex as a secondary destination and it will be a challenge to update the market and add sophistication. "Seasonality is a further issue, but this is something we can build on over time and eventually we will revive the spirit of San Stefano as a social center, not merely a hotel, he says. With the planned catering service, a huge ballroom with a total area of 1,150 square meters divisible in to three sections featuring a 400 square-meter pre-function space, it is possible that within the next few years, prospective brides and grooms from the provinces who used to go to Cairo to have their weddings may start opting for Alexandria. The presence of such a luxury facility will undoubtedly raise the bar of all the tourist attractions in the city to suit the new clientele, as well as bring traffic to little-known gems such as the home of Greek poet Cavafy, which is now a museum. "Old Alexandria will be reborn, but with new expectations.We will prove your friend wrong and he'll become a regular guest, says Killinger. This time, I didn't shrug my shoulders. I knew my impulse was spot on.
