New luxury resort for Egypt

Plans for a five-star resort in Egypt's Sharm el Sheikh have been unveiled by New York architecture firm Perkins Eastman.

Construction is due to begin this month on the Baia Bianca Hotel, which is being developed by Egyptian developer Hassan Allam Properties in one of the country's most popular tourism destinations.

The 45,000 m² hotel, at the foot of the SInai Mountains, will include around 600 rooms is one of a number of major projects to be unveiled in Sharm Al Sheikh already in 2010. Egypt's government are encouraging development in tourism, an industry that suffered only minimal declines in 2009 despite the global recession   

Shawn Basler, principal in charge of the project, said: “This hotel will combine the best in global hospitality with the unique characteristics and traditions of the region - offering guests a truly unique experience.”

Basler said that the design of the hotel takes its inspiration from the simple forms of early architecture on the Sinai, incorporating the colors, patterns, and materials found in the region. Natural stone has been used to create a connection with the Sinai Mountains.