As Grand Hyatt The Red Sea establishes its presence on Shura Island, Cluster Director of Events Sales & Planning Nisreen Baidas discusses the vision behind the resort’s MICE offering, the opportunities created by its large-scale event infrastructure and how the destination’s natural setting could shape a new generation of meetings, incentives and corporate celebrations in Saudi Arabia.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
What was the vision behind Grand Hyatt The Red Sea’s MICE offering, and what opportunities does Shura Island create for planners?
The vision is to create a distinctive destination for meetings and events that combines Grand Hyatt’s signature hospitality with the natural beauty and cultural character of the Red Sea.
Located on Shura Island, the hotel offers planners a “destination-within-a-destination” experience, where business gatherings can be complemented by exceptional leisure, wellness, dining and marine experiences. The island’s setting creates opportunities for programmes that extend beyond the meeting room, from leadership retreats and incentive travel to corporate celebrations and exclusive gatherings surrounded by beaches, lagoons and striking natural landscapes.
The hotel features 430 guestrooms, suites and villas, nine dining venues, and more than 5,000 square metres of event space. This combination allows planners to create complete, residential programmes in one location, with accommodation, meetings, dining and recreation seamlessly connected.
How does Grand Hyatt The Red Sea’s large-scale event spaces and resort environment enhance the MICE experience?
The property is designed to accommodate both intimate executive gatherings and large-scale events. Our Grand Ballroom spans 1,390 square metres and can host up to 1,700 guests, while the Junior Ballroom offers 683 square metres with capacity for up to 800 guests.
The venue portfolio also includes flexible meeting rooms, boardrooms and divisible ballroom spaces, enabling planners to design programmes with plenary sessions, breakouts, exhibitions, receptions and gala dinners.
The resort environment adds another dimension to the experience. Delegates can move from formal meetings to relaxed networking, wellness activities, beachfront dining, water-based experiences and curated excursions. This flexibility is particularly valuable for incentive groups, corporate retreats and leadership gatherings, where memorable experiences and meaningful connections are as important as the business agenda.
What are the key priorities for establishing the property in the international MICE market, and what should planners know about the experiences available?
Our priorities are to deliver consistently high standards of service, create seamless event execution, offer flexible and technologically equipped spaces, and provide experiences that feel genuinely connected to the Red Sea destination.
We want planners to know that Grand Hyatt The Red Sea can support a wide range of event formats, from strategic board meetings and leadership retreats to conferences, incentive programmes, product launches, gala dinners and large corporate celebrations. The hotel’s accommodation mix, extensive event facilities and diverse dining concepts make it possible to build highly personalised itineraries for different group sizes and objectives.
Equally important is the destination itself. Shura Island offers a rare combination of natural beauty, privacy and exclusivity, with opportunities for guests to explore the Red Sea through marine activities, island experiences, wellness programmes and destination-led excursions.
Our aim is for every event to be professionally successful while also giving attendees a strong sense of place and a lasting connection to Saudi Arabia. We look forward to welcoming international planners to explore the property and experience its possibilities firsthand.
