For its first location in the Central Asian Republic of Turkmenistan, Sofitel chose the capital city of Ashgabat. With a booming economy based on extensive resources of oil and natural gas, plus the vibrant local cotton industry, the city is a modern oasis amid the desert of Karakum.

The unabashed modernity of the glistening white marble and glass façade of the Sofitel Ashgabat Oguzkent reflects the vibrant state of the young nation of Turkmenistan.

Of the hotel’s 299 rooms, 48 are suites. Each bears a name redolent of the country’s history, and all are generously spacious in design: 10 Junior Suites of 105 m2, 24 Prestige Suites of 160 m2 and 14 Presidential Suites of 325 m2.

This level of comfort is maintained by an array of services combining Turkmen traditions with modern amenities. No less than 1000 m2 of space is given over to a health and fitness spa complex: one indoor swimming pool, two outdoor pools, 12 massage rooms, 2 saunas and 2 hammams. Guests also enjoy the use of a fitness room and its state-of-the-art equipment.

A negotiation room measuring over 800 m2 and capable of hosting up to thirty delegations is equipped with microphones, video conferencing and transmission facilities and interpreting booths, offering leading edge technology for any kind of meeting.

Lastly, for events with attendances ranging from 10 to 1000, the hotel has a 2500 m2 conference centre whose facilities and service arrangements can be customized to meet a range of needs....

President of Turkmenistan attends ceremony of opening Oguzkent Hotel

Friday, 15 October 2010 05:00

The ceremony of opening the Oguzkent Hotel, the high class and a wide range of possibilities of receiving high-level guests was to highlight the international status of Ashgabat as a hotspot of political, diplomatic, economic, business activity, took place in the Turkmen capital on the eve of the 19th anniversary of independence. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov attended the ceremony of opening the new fashionable hotel, the largest elite hotel complex in the Central Asian region.
The ceremony of opening the Oguzkent Hotel, the high class and a wide range of possibilities of receiving high-level guests was to highlight the international status of Ashgabat as a hotspot of political, diplomatic, economic, business activity, took place in the Turkmen capital on the eve of the 19th anniversary of independence.
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov attended the ceremony of opening the new fashionable hotel, the largest elite hotel complex in the Central Asian region. It should be noted that the Turkmen leader had paid unremitting attention to the construction of the new hotel, which from the very beginning had gained the high status of an important element of infrastructure of the dynamically developing industry of hospitality in the country. Henceforth, Oguzkent will rank among landmarks of the capital, a monumental and bright symbol of the open door policy pursued by the Turkmen leader that has earned our state high respect, confidence and prestige all over the world.
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered together on Neutrality Avenue, one of the central streets of Ashgabat, where the magnificent building of the new hotel had sprung up.
The cabinet ministers, the heads of ministries and departments, the Mejlis, diplomatic missions accredited to Turkmenistan and offices of international organisations, foreign businessmen, the elders and students participated in the opening ceremony.
Dance groups and popular singers of Turkmenistan presented a bright music performance on the square in front of the building. National melodies were heard everywhere on the area decorated with flags, garlands and balloons.
It is symbolic that the opening of the Oguzkent Hotel, the name of which is translated as the country of the Oguz, coincided with the international conference Oguznama as a Historical and Cultural Source being conducted in Ashgabat in those days. All this illustrate that it is the epoch of new Revival and great reforms when the Turkmen people have enhanced historic fame of the Oguz across over the world.
To the applause of ceremony participants and guests, the President entered the hotel building. The Turkmen leader shook hands with foreign diplomats, top managers of the Bouygues Company, which had implemented this project. A musical and theatrical show reproducing the legend about Oguz Khan and his sons in lively images was presented at the entrance to the building.
President of Turkmenistan cut the symbolic ribbon. The President presented the keys to a luxury car to the Oguzkent Hotel, which henceforth would have a special place in the car park of the hotel.
In the foyer girls dressed in national costumes presented wonderful flowers to the Turkmen leader. The baton of the musical show, which created a festive atmosphere of the ceremony, was picked up by the orchestra of the Ministry of Culture and Broadcasting of Turkmenistan, who performed the works of national and world classic composers.
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov accompanied by cabinet members, foreign diplomats made an excursion around the Oguzkent Hotel.
The five-star hotel worth 270 million euros is an ultramodern hotel complex designed to receive high-ranking guests and to host large-scale international forums. The majestic building combines latest achievements in architecture, the best traditions of the national art of building and ensures seismic safety. The total area of buildings is 95,200 square metres. The adjacent territory covers 70,000 square metres. The height of the building facade, including the upper floor for a restaurant with a panoramic view, is 67 meters above the entrance.
The building of the five-star hotel has two wings as if widely opened from the central atrium. There are 299 rooms, 14 of them are President-class. There is a separate room for the President of Turkmenistan. Also, there is a helipad on the roof of the building designed in accordance with international requirements set to facilities of this kind. The complex comprises the Conference Centre with assembly halls and multi-purpose premises.
The President began the excursion around the building with central atrium, the main decoration of which was bas-reliefs that aroused keen interest of the Turkmen leader.
These bas-reliefs are a narration about five-thousand-year way of the Turkmen people, five epochs of the history of the Turkmen people. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov told about the meaning of the symbols depicted on the bas-reliefs, the events of bygone epochs and national heroes the guests accompanying him.
Then the President visited a bar located on the ground floor, where Turkmen national sweets and fruits were offered to ceremony participants and guests.
There is a spa treatment room supplied with ultramodern equipment and excellent facilities. Then the Turkmen leader visited deluxe suites and the President’s Ahalteke suite, which had exquisitely furnished lobby, lounge, study, rooms for negotiations located on the 9th floor of the building.
Then the President visited a restaurant on the 14th floor, which had the splendid view of the Turkmen capital. In the restaurant guests, who could enjoy the excellent quality of local food, had delicious Turkmen meal.
Then the President of Turkmenistan held the meetings and talks with the delegation consisting of ministers of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the top managers of Bouygues, Chairman and CEO Martin Bouygues and CEO of Bouygues Batiment International Olivier-Marie Racine.

Greeting the guests, the Turkmen leader noted that the Turkmen proverb said that a good neighbour or dear guest must be the first to enter a new house. “Maintaining our traditions of hospitality and cordiality over centuries and handing them down from generation to generation”, said President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, “we fill them with a new content, enrich them with a new meaning. This is illustrated by the luxury Oguzkent Hotel opened today, which should embody hospitality of the Turkmen people, the national spirit of friendliness and good neighbourliness, our openness to the world and willingness to cooperate with all countries interested.”

Upon concluding the meetings and talks the President bade farewell heartily to ceremony participants and guests and left the territory of the hotel.

State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH)