Close to Rosewood Corniche opening, I was lucky enough to get a chance to sit and talk with Mr. Hans – Peter Leitzke, the hotel’s managing director.

What’s Up Jeddah: What is your strategic approach to your clients?

Mr. Leitzke: Our strategy hasn’t changed since we first started, we have had developed lists of key account of both corporate and individuals; however since your last visit to Rosewood Corniche, we now can say that we have a finished product.

WUJ: So have you decided on a date for your grand opening?

Mr. Leitzke: Yes, now we have a fixed date, we will be open to our customers on September 8th.

WUJ: What level of standards are you bringing to Jeddah’s hospitality market with the opening of Rosewood Corniche?

Mr. Leitzke: Basically we have set the standards, to reflect Rosewood Hotels & Resorts beliefs and philosophies; we are trying to be consistent in our delivery, while making sure that our staffs who are our main asset comfortable enough to deliver that.

WUJ: Back to the opening, any special event or party being in the works for this grand opening?

Mr. Leitzke: We basically open the doors and go with the flow, no special plans as of yet, we might do something later on after the soft opening, but not on the opening date.

WUJ: Back in my first visit to Rosewood Corniche, I heard that beside the concepts behind all the restaurants in the hotel, there is a unique place, a place to see and be seen, can you give me a little more details about that?

Mr. Leitzke: We have designed our lobby to have a very cozy setup, let’s call it a homey setup, as if you are having friends and family around in your living room. We have created a certain ambience, which is enhanced by products and items brought from Europe, we can call it Austrian delicacies, which nobody in town can make, with the added attention to detail, since we sent people abroad to train and learn the secrets of preparing these delicacies, and finally our service delivery without intruding into our client’s privacy while enjoying the lobby.

What we are creating is a trendy place, that’s our target, and that’s why we say a place to see and to be seen, we call it Soleil.

WUJ: So are you excited about the upcoming opening?

Mr. Leitzke: I am very excited, I am very anxious, I have a wonderful dedicated and motivated team working with me, and we are so happy that we are getting this opportunity to open a hotel; it is quite rare that anyone would get such an opportunity with a wonderful product such as the Rosewood Corniche.

WUJ: I am curios, since you’re officially opening around the month of Ramadan. Will Rosewood Corniche offer anything special?

Mr. Leitzke: We will offer a special Iftar menu during the month of Ramadan, it will be different, and we will cater a mixture between a traditional Arabic Iftar and our trademark Austrian buffet which is delivered to the client’s table by trolley.

WUJ: Mr. Leitzke, now I know that there are more attractions and venues we can talk about that are taking place in the hotel, I would like to revisit so that we can explore what this boutique hotel has to offer under with of the hand painted atrium ceiling.

Mr. Leitzke: You are more then welcome to come back and see for yourself what the Rosewood Corniche has in store for its clients.