THE recently refurbished Riviera beach lounge of the Hotel Rivera in Beirut is best described as a trendy, flamboyant, glitzy and exuberant locale. Designed by Gatserelia Designer’s, Gregory Gatserelia, it has been engineered to be the first of its kind in Lebanon, offering three swimming pools, eight Jacuzzis, and a 100 metre waterfall.
The project was completed in summer 2008. According to Tony Gergess, deputy general manager, “The concept of the beach lounge is trendy, clean cut, new generation, yet families can have their own area.”
The beach can be accessed via a tunnel that is connected to the Riviera Hotel or from a private entrance on the Corniche. Once inside the resort, guests are in the surroundings of luxury, modernity and elegance. Wooden floors lead to revolving sun beds, and the pools with bars and stools allow guests to take meals or drinks in the water. Private bungalows with Jacuzzis are lined facing the Mediterranean and waterfall.
Mykonos Lounge is can accommodate 15 to 20 people. It has a large whirlpool bathtub, private bar, private butler and includes amenities such as complimentary champagne, exotic fruits, wine and vodka.
The Island is a new generation open air night lounge that includes dining and dancing. “It’s a floating island that once used to be a marina,” adds Gergess.
Gergess said that new shareholders joined the previous owners in 2006 and decided to refurbish the beach as a first step to attract the local community. “They began with the beach and the hotel will be renovated beginning of next year and will follow the same trend.”
Director of sales and marketing Rita Faddoul said, “Summer was more than expected for Lebanon. Occupancy rates were at 85 per cent for the hotel and the Beach lounge with all its facility was fully booked every single day of the summer.”