New luxury hotel opens on Cairo's Nile

(Kempinski)

Luxury hotel chain Kempinski has opened the first five-star boutique hotel in Egyptian capital Cairo, the Kempinski Nile.

Offering 137 rooms and 54 suites, the Kempinski Nile overlooks the banks of the famous river and is the latest hotel to open in the city, which is undergoing something of a tourism boom.

The hotel is designed by French architect Pierre Yves Rochon, who is responsible for parts of the famed George V in Paris and the newly renovated The Savoy hotel in London.

Kempinski says that Rochon's design "represents a masterpiece of contemporary design with attributes that specifically pay homage to Egypt's ancient history."

Guests can choose from four restaurants, one of which has no menu - chefs are on hand to cook all dishes to order on request - and four bars, including a rooftop bar and shisha bar.

The hotel also offers a spa and health club, private balconies, marble bathrooms, a pillow concierge and a butler service for residents.

Recent figures suggest that Egypt is currently seeing something of a tourism boom, helped by the weakness of the UK pound which is making the country more attractive to visitors from Britain specifically.

British tourism to Egypt was up 20 percent in 2009, according to industry figures, and with the addition of new routes to the country from the US by Continental Airlines in 2011, American tourism could be next.

Although Kempinski is the first of the "Leading Hotels of the World" collection to open in Cairo, it could have competition in the next few years - fellow high-end brand Rocco Forte plans to open its property there in 2013.

http://www.kempinski.com