From Deseret News archives:

Luxury resort is coming to Kane

Published: Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005 9:19 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Amanresorts has ultra-luxury resorts in such exotic locales as Thailand, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, France, French Polynesia and Mexico, among others.

"And soon Kane County will be added to that."

Those words from Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. heralded Tuesday's announcement that an investor group will build its second U.S. resort — a $125 million investment including a hotel, spa and villas — just west of Lake Powell. Singapore-based Amanresorts is the hotel management partner for the project, expected to be ready in about two years.

The project will be called Amangiri. Most Amanresorts complexes begin with "Aman," and "giri" in Sanskrit means "rock formations," common in the Lake Powell area.

On one side of the buildings will be 400-foot-high rock walls. The other side will feature sand dunes. Investors are hoping tourists — about 135,000 loyal guests are called "Amanjunkies" — will be attracted by the opportunities for water sports, boating, fishing, rafting, golf, heliskiing, helicopter tours, a spa, sports, hiking and mountaineering.

Story continues below
"One of the things about Aman, they really do their hotel according to where they are, and it's not a box which is the same all over the world," Christoph Henkel, a lead investor, said during a Wednesday news conference. "So you will find whichever property much more attuned to the local landscape, culture — you name it — so each hotel is very, very unique, and that is their strength."

"The most important thing is they come into the destination and they learn and understand that destination first before they put pen to paper," said Guy Heywood, country manager for Amanresorts Americas.

The investors have been acquiring land along the Arizona border for four years and will have about 670 acres in the first phase of Amangiri. The total includes 320 acres purchased from the federal government.

"You start with one thing, it works well, then you keep investing," Henkel said. While the Phase One investment is about $125 million, "from there it will go north. It will be substantially more in the future, but keeping within the spirit of 'small is beautiful,' " he said.

Henkel said great landscapes often lack a "fantastic place to stay." While many European friends of his are "perfectly happy" driving around great landscapes in their RVs, Henkel thought "we could do something else."

"Only Aman is capable of bringing the kind of name and brand recognition to attract that kind of audience that we're looking for, to afford staying in the hotel," Henkel said.

Heywood said Amanresorts' "vision and philosophy" are unique.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Provided by Amanresorts

A planned luxury development called Amangiri, to be built in Kane County, will include a hotel, spa and villas. The first phase of the project will cost about $125 million.

previousnext

Latest comments

BYU eager for crack at Oregon State

I just hope Max can keep things classy, win or lose. He brought a lot of...

Answers for the BCS

The problem is this is the perfect scenario for the BCS honchos. Sure let two...

TCU's BCS game missing something

The BCS should be tossed. But it will be difficult to do as money is...

If the cougars win, and I beleive they will, they should finish top 10. That...

Utes excited to go to San Diego

the "U" sign belongs to Miami. Before you know it they will be using the...

I would rather these guys fly me around than the 19 year old looking pilots...

Re: "The irony is that Utah players are often better examples of...

Store planning for Palin crush

PLease give some specific examples to backup YOUR HATETFUL LEFTEST rhetoric....

To anonymous 3:37 Let me ask you a question? Where is Sodom and...

HEY AGGIE: How about "Cougars sure to prove stiff challenge for Beavers."

Advertisements