{"id":16420,"date":"2019-10-29T16:56:46","date_gmt":"2019-10-29T15:56:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.riu.com\/blog\/?p=16420"},"modified":"2019-11-12T10:30:38","modified_gmt":"2019-11-12T09:30:38","slug":"luis-riu-new-hotel-senegal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.riu.com\/blog\/en\/luis-riu-new-hotel-senegal\/","title":{"rendered":"Luis Riu: \u201cIn Senegal we are taking a huge risk, but it is also a huge opportunity\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

I think it has become clear, over the months that the blog has been running, that I\u2019m a man of action more than an office man. I love exploratory visits to analyse a new destination or a new hotel<\/strong>, and if it\u2019s a destination that hasn\u2019t yet been discovered by resort tourism, so much the better.<\/p>\n

\"Luis<\/a>

Luis Riu, CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts, prepares the new opening of the hotel chain in Senegal.<\/p><\/div>\n

I believe I have earned something of a reputation as a pioneer through my projects to renovate and build new hotels<\/a>. Sometimes, with personal commitments such as Jamaica<\/strong>, where nobody within or outside RIU supported me. Other times, with much more unknown destinations such as Cape Verde<\/strong> that already welcomes tour operation. A holiday hotel in Senegal<\/strong> is the project that I have pinned my hopes on at the moment, because everything needs doing there, and that\u2019s a challenge I simply can\u2019t resist. We are taking a huge risk, but it is also a huge opportunity for RIU<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

RIU has a long list of international projects, hotels from Punta Cana to Senegal<\/h2>\n

I explained not long ago how the RIU hotel in Punta Cana was our baptism of fire. Building our first resort there in 1990<\/strong> meant we had to overcome countless difficulties, and that prepared us to take on any test. And I think, without really being aware of it, I look for a challenge like this from time to time. Setting up in an established destination, with modern infrastructure, flight links and good roads is fantastic. But coming up against the exact opposite holds a real appeal to me.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

A beach in Senegal, the country where Luis Riu plans to open a new hotel.<\/p><\/div>\n

Pointe Sar\u00e9ne<\/strong> has that element of adventure that you find in destinations yet to be discovered by the tourist industry. It lies 100 km south of Dakar and has a large white sand beach and a beautiful sea, perfect for swimming and watersports. But it is also an area that will allow our guests to discover the real Africa, its culture and its nature. On my first visit, I was really struck by the landscape of the characteristic and unmistakeable baobab trees.<\/p>\n

\"Natural<\/a>

Natural Senegalese landscape with its distinctive baobab trees.<\/p><\/div>\n

Building the first RIU hotel in Senegal<\/h2>\n

Construction work on the first hotel in the country is about to begin. At the start of last summer, we announced the purchase of a 25-hectare site on the beachfront where we will build a Riu Classic hotel<\/strong>. It will be all-inclusive with around 500 rooms<\/strong> and it was designed especially for our guests, in particular those from Central Europe, so that they can discover a new holiday destination with RIU.<\/p>\n

In a way, we are relaxed about the future hotel\u2019s operation because we are starting from the advantageous position of already having Senegalese staff at our Cape Verde hotels<\/strong>. As a result, we are already familiar with their character and their way of working. It\u2019s fair to say that they are very keen to learn and grow professionally. It also means that we have team members who know our product and our service philosophy, and who are prepared to take on roles of responsibility in the new RIU hotel.<\/p>\n

\"Boats<\/a>

Boats in the coast of Senegal, RIU\u2019s new tourist destination.<\/p><\/div>\n

Advantages of Senegal for RIU hotels as a tourist destination<\/h2>\n

As well as the destination\u2019s attraction, which I hope will play in our favour as we market it, Senegal has other advantages<\/strong> that are not so appealing to list, but that are still highly valuable.<\/p>\n