Sometimes a soft renovation is better than a full one, as we’ve seen with the terrible interior design at Mandarin Oriental just next door.




I actually find the renovation quite decent — apart from the lamps, which look more Sheraton than elegant — and I’m glad they didn’t turn it into a “design hotel” cliché that would feel dated in five years. It still retains its original spirit and doesn’t look like any generic luxury property.

After all, should La Mamounia or Raffles Singapore be turned into trendy showcases? Some hotels are meant to evolve discreetly, not reinvent themselves every decade.

And why not imagine a Kimpton in Cairo one day?
The former InterContinental Pyramid Resort, now Pyramids Park Resort Cairo, would be a perfect candidate.
It has real potential — it would be interesting to see how that turns out.



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