Exclusive Feature: Q&A with Mr Asaf Fattal: The opening of the Botanica hotel – the newest edition of the Fattal Hotels chain brought me back to the city of Haifa which is one of my favorite cities in Israel.

Before I dig deep into the Botanica Hotel and why it is so important for the Fattal group, let me tell you a bit about Haifa.

Haifa is a unique and special city for several reasons. Here are a few factors that contribute to its distinct and rather unique character:

Religious and Cultural Diversity:
Haifa is a melting pot of different religions and cultures. It is home to Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities, and is known for its harmonious coexistence and tolerance. This diversity is reflected in the city's architecture, cuisine, and celebrations, making Haifa a truly cosmopolitan destination.

Natural Beauty:
Haifa is located on the slopes of Mount Carmel and overlooks the Mediterranean Sea, offering breathtaking views from many parts of the city.
In addition to the stunning Bahai Gardens, Haifa’s UNESCO world Heritage site, Haifa is home to numerous parks and nature reserves, providing ample opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation.

Historical Significance:
Haifa has a rich and complex history, dating back to ancient times.
Throughout the centuries, the city has been a center of trade, culture, and religion, and has been shaped by various empires and conquests. This rich past is evident in the city's architecture and landmarks, making Haifa a fascinating destination for history buffs.

The ‘Botanica’ is the first hotel launched under the Fattal Limited Edition Luxury Hotels brand.

Location:
The Botanica Hotel is in Haifa’s German Colony on Ben Gurion Boulevard, at the foothills of the famous Bahai Gardens and Hanging Gardens, a growing area that attracts young people from throughout the country and is today considered the heart of the city’s leisure and entertainment culture.

The hotel is near Haifa’s numerous attractions, including the Bahai Gardens, Haifa Port, National Museum of Science Technology & Space, and a diverse range of bars and restaurants, making it an attractive and amazing destination.

In addition to their historical significance, the spectacular Bahai Gardens and the shrines within them, which can be viewed from the Botanica hotel rooms, pool, and Café, symbolize the current center for Bahai spirituality worldwide.

Consequently, UNESCO has recently inscribed the “Exceptional universal value’’ of the Gardens, places of pilgrimage believers of the Bahai Faith, by inducting them into the list of world heritage sites to ensure their preservation for future generations. This hotel is located between the Bahai Gardens and German Colony, which was founded in 1868 by the German Templars.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War, the German Templars were deported to British detention camps and later deported from the country, leaving behind their homes.

The ancient stone houses that have been preserved today serve as cafes, restaurants, galleries, and souvenir shops that draw visitors from the city and beyond with their picturesque European ambience in downtown Haifa. The central axis of the German Colony is Ben Gurion Boulevard, which crosses it along its length. At its end stands the lower entrance to the Bahai Gardens in Haifa, and it is at this meeting place that the Botanica Hotel is located.

BOTANICA Hotel Design

Designed by architect Guy Arbel and interior decorator Nestor Sandbak, the Botanica Hotel incorporates a vibrant palette of aesthetic colors and patterns, inspired by botanic gardens from around the world. Botanica’s design reflects characteristic elements of the famous Bahai Gardens with extensive and impressive spaces, alongside bright and colorful areas, designed with extreme care.

The Bahai Gardens were the main inspiration for selecting the artworks that adorn the walls of the Botanica Hotel. The works in this collection show arrange of forms in which nature can be expressed: wild, civilized or planted in a harmonious mystical harmony. As well as having aesthetic value, botany has spiritual value as it facilitates access to the holy places of the Bahai Gardens.

Likewise, the contemporary art works of the hotel offer a rendering of the world of botany or are based on the spiritual symbolism in which the hotel's artists are active in the local contemporary art scene.

A number of the works on display are place-dependent, created uniquely for specific locations within the hotel, and are the result of an ongoing dialogue.

Botanica facilities and services

A total of 163 rooms and suites are available at the Botanica Hotel. The designs of the rooms and suites differ in tone, harmoniously corresponding to the appearance of the gardens, which terraces alternate between shades of yellow, red, blue, and green.

Throughout the day and evening, guests can unwind in the “Living Room”, a luxurious lobby bar which serves as a relaxing retreat, and take advantage of the hotel’s European-style cafe or restaurant. The hotel also includes a luxurious spa complex, a rooftop overlooking stunning views of the city, a spacious and sophisticated gym, a pool with an outstanding vista of the Bahai gardens, conference rooms, a unique “greenhouse” patio bar in the middle of the hotel, a commercial complex with a variety of shops, and a parking lot that can accommodate approximately 200 vehicles.

The Botanica Hotel offers to its guests a personal concierge service to provide guests with an outstanding, memorable stay, attentively helping them keep up to date on all the city’s hotspots and upcoming events, as well as coordinating various bookings such as guided tours, reservations for restaurants, shows, plays, attractions, transportation, and more.

After much thought and reflection, the Botanica Hotel created a fine culinary menu, influenced by the world’s leading cuisine influencers. Additionally, the menu incorporated elements of the local culture and the Bahai gardens. The gourmet kitchen offers a truly unique botanical mixology, a gourmet boulangerie, an expansive fromagerie, a quality meat deli, sweet pralines, and botanical infusions created for to celebrate those special moments. Botanical mixology at the Botanica Hotel - professional mixologists serve stylish cocktail creations inspired by the hotel’s story and the theory of plants.

Spa treatments at the Botanica Hotel are also influenced by the nearby Bahai gardens, with oils exclusively produced for the facility’s patients. The oils are an infusion of plants and flowers that characterize the Bahai garden and reflect the wonderful smells of its blossoms.

Q & A with Mr. Assaf Fattal – Business Development and Pre opening General Manager Fattal Group

JF: What was the total investment per key in the BOTANICA Hotel?

AF: The total investment was $US 300,000 per key

JF: What are the unique physical characteristics for hotels that will be included in the new “Fattal Limited Edition” brand?

AF: With the “Limited Edition” brand, we are focusing on uniqueness and individuality. Each hotel will have “a story to tell”.

There are no rigged physical standards. The absolute condition is to have the right location. We will focus on: location, individual concept for each member of the collection and, most importantly, the guest experience.

JF: The BOTANICA is a city hotel. Do you have plans to develop also resort hotels under the “Fattal Limited Edition” brand?

AF: the answer is YES. We already have plans for several resorts to join the “Fattal Limited Edition” brand. In the Red Sea resort city of Eilat, at the Dead Sea (temporary name for the project is EBRA), A resort on the shores of the Sea Of Galilee – Kibbutz Ein Gev. I can confirm that the first resort that will join the “Limited Collection” brand will be the Canaan Spa and wellness Resort on Canaan Mountain near the historical town of Zefat.

JF: Will the hotels run under the “Fattal Limited Edition” be owned or leased to you, or do you also consider Management Agreements and Franchises ?

AF: At this moment, Fattal hotels does not operate a franchise model so also in the case of “Fattal Limited Collection” we shall operate under our own ownership, long term leases or management agreements.

JF: What are the market segments that you are aiming to bring in to the new brand ?

AF: The “Limited Edition” brand is designed for adult individuals (Above 16 years), both locals and FIT’s as well as for the corporate travellers.

JF: Do you have future to launch the new “Fattal Limited Edition” brand in your European hotel operations with Leonardo, and if so, when and in which countries you plan your first launchings?

AF: We are already operating hotels in Europe under the “Leonardo Limited Edition” brand, and soon we shall launch the Midland hotel in Manchester under “Leonardo Limited Edition” as well as the Dili hotel in London, The Grand Brighton Hotel, Alden Hotel in Zurich, The Plaza Hotel Antwerp as well and another hotel in Nuremberg which is not ready yet. We are also planning a “Leonardo Limited Edition” in Lisbon, but that will take a bit more time.

Credit to the photographer: Ms. Aya Ben-Ezri

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