Nofa Riyadh, A Radisson Collection Resort, is a luxurious sanctuary set amidst the enchanting landscapes of Saudi Arabia, combining golden sand dunes, verdant gardens, and majestic mountains.  

Named Best Luxury Villa Resort in Saudi Arabia for 2024 by Luxury Lifestyle Awards, it offers an exclusive retreat with luxury villas featuring private gardens and pools. Located just outside Riyadh and adjacent to a captivating safari park, the resort provides a unique blend of culture, adventure, and relaxation.  

We had the honor of spending time with the resort’s general manager, Anna-Marie Dowling, and went behind the scenes to learn more about the captivating retreat. 

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: Nofa Riyadh was recently recognized as Best Luxury Villa Resort in Saudi Arabia by LLA, and is described as a perfect blend of nature and luxury. How do you manage to maintain this balance, and what challenges do you face in ensuring both elements are equally emphasized? 

Anna-Marie Dowling: Ultimately, the success of Nofa Riyadh as a blend of nature and luxury depends on delivering an exceptional guest experience. This involves ensuring that guests feel immersed in the beauty of their surroundings while also enjoying the comfort, convenience, and indulgence that our luxury accommodation offers. This entails ensuring that we remain consistent in our product and service standards which in turn means a huge focus on checking the resort every day and how our teams performing and ensuring our staff engagement is as high as it can be so they can feel empowered to deliver exceptional service. 

LLA: Personalized service is a hallmark of Nofa Riyadh. Can you share some examples of how your team tailors the experiences to meet individual guest preferences? 

AD: At Nofa Riyadh, personalized service is paramount. Our team meticulously customizes each guest’s stay by offering personalized welcome amenities based on preferences, tailored dining experiences with bespoke menus, and curated activities aligned with individual interests, such as private wildlife safaris or exclusive spa treatments. We also provide personalized in-room amenities and décor to celebrate special occasions. Dedicated duty managers and heads of departments do all that they can to ensure that every need is anticipated and met, from arranging unique cultural experiences to providing personalized concierge services. This attention to detail guarantees that each guest enjoys a unique and memorable stay tailored specifically to their desires. 

LLA: Nofa Riyadh offers a variety of unique activities, from safari experiences to an 18-hole golf course. How do these activities enhance the overall guest experience, and which are the most popular among your visitors? 

AD: Overall, each of these unique activities at Nofa Riyadh enhances the guest experience by providing opportunities for adventure, relaxation, and connection with nature. The most popular activities among visitors may vary depending on individual preferences, but all are designed to offer memorable experiences that showcase the resort’s blend of luxury and natural beauty. The activity booked by the majority of guests is the safari experience, as it is a truly unique activity. There are various ways to enjoy the safari, such as in an air-conditioned van, an open-air car, or on horseback, making it appealing to many of our guests. 

LLA: With a diverse range of dining options available, how do you ensure that each restaurant maintains high standards of quality and innovation in its offerings? 

AD: We have recently appointed a new Executive Head Chef to lead our brigade. Chef Murad Zayed joined us in April and is currently reviewing all the menus one by one, at each outlet, updating them with some of his signature dishes. Staying abreast of changing consumer preferences, dietary trends, and market demands is crucial for remaining competitive in the culinary landscape,  especially since the market in Riyadh has become much more dynamic. Nofa has to try and stay on pace with this vibrant restaurant scene, as customer expectations for culinary experiences have risen substantially in recent years in KSA. 

Listening to guest feedback and responding to their preferences and suggestions is essential for continuously improving our culinary offerings. Following up on guest satisfaction surveys, comment cards, and online reviews allows our management teams to assess guests’ satisfaction and make necessary adjustments.  

LLA: The Amani Spa & Wellness Center aims to promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being. How do you keep your wellness offerings current and effective in meeting the diverse needs of your guests? 

AD: We see this as a potential area of growth over the next few years, as many of our guests are taking a much more active approach to their well-being and overall health. Adopting a holistic approach to wellness that encompasses physical, mental, and emotional well-being ensures that guests receive comprehensive care in this key area of their lives.  We work closely with our partners at Amani Spas to ensure there is a diverse range of treatments on our spa menus and we are also in the embryonic stages of developing some new partnerships that will offer residential packages that will involve integrating elements of nutrition, mindfulness, stress management, and lifestyle counseling into wellness offerings to assist some of our guests who have a desire to possibly address the root causes of some potential health issues. 

LLA: Nofa Riyadh provides exceptional venues for events ranging from weddings to corporate meetings. What strategies do you employ to ensure that each event is not only successful but also memorable for your clients? 

AD: At Nofa Riyadh, we employ several strategies to ensure that each event, whether it’s a wedding or a corporate meeting, is not only successful but also memorable for our clients. Firstly, we prioritize personalized service, taking the time to understand the unique vision and requirements of each client. This allows us to tailor every aspect of the event to their specific needs, ensuring a truly bespoke experience. 

Secondly, we focus on attention to detail, from the planning stages to execution. Our dedicated sales and events teams work closely with clients to meticulously plan every aspect of the event, from venue setup to catering and entertainment, leaving no stone unturned. 

Thirdly, we leverage our luxurious venue and state-of-the-art facilities to create unforgettable experiences. Whether it’s a wedding in our picturesque gardens or a corporate meeting in our sophisticated conference rooms, our venues provide the perfect backdrop for any occasion. 

LLA: Sustainability is a key focus at Nofa Riyadh. Could you elaborate on some specific practices the resort has implemented to reduce its environmental footprint and support local communities? 

AD: At Radisson Hotels, we are driven by our Responsible Business pillars: Think People, Think Community, Think Planet. Nofa Riyadh Hotel was awarded the Sustainability Basics by the World Travel & Tourism Council last year. The Hotel Sustainability Basics is driven by a global collection of hotel groups, associations, and destinations, with a vision and commitment to creating a more sustainable hotel industry. All the hotels that receive this key accolade believe in reducing their environmental footprint, supporting local communities, and promoting inclusion and equality within their teams. 

This year, Nofa Riyadh also made additional pledges to implement 10 new sustainability practices, of which we have introduced six. These include planting new trees around the resort, growing more of our own produce, recycling plastic, cardboard, cans, and glass, introducing solar lighting around the resort, and asking staff to donate old clothing, books, and toys that they no longer use, which we then donate to communities in need in the nearby town of Muzahimiyah. 

Thank you, Anna-Marie, we appreciate you sharing with us today! 

To find out more about the enchanting hotel, please visit https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-collection-riyadh-nofa-resort.