Moon World Resorts Inc (MWR) is a Canadian-based architectural design and intellectual property licensor. MWR’s Co-Founders Sandra G Matthews and Michael R Henderson are the brains behind the ultra-luxurious and ambitious Moon project in Dubai.
In an exclusive interview with Hotelier India, Sandra Matthews, Co-Founder of Moon World Resorts Inc, give us more insights into this mega project.
1. What was the trigger behind the mega-resort project? How did the idea come about?
The idea came rom a strong desire to create a unique innovative destination resort like no other. It had to have a recognisable global brand, had to become a building of global significance, had to be the bridge to enable affordable space tourism, had to disrupt the following key touch points – architecture, engineering, design, technology, longevity/ wellbeing, environmental stewardship and sustainability, education and space tourism. Had to incorporate hospitality, entertainment, attraction experiences and be fully integrated. MOON has taken 23 years to perfect, and its design continues to evolve and improve, even today.
MWR will licence four MOON Destination Resorts around the globe (known as Regional Licences), one in each of the following regions – North America, Europe, MENA and Asia.
2. Tell us more about the features of the resort? In terms of the area, how huge will it be? How many rooms will it have? Will it be just a hotel/ resort or have corporate/ residential uses too?
MOON is a fully integrated Destination Resort with a twist. It incorporates multiple component parts many of which would be familiar in name to global travellers. Convention center, event center, a 200-suite boutique hotel, a 4,000-luxury suite signature hotel, night clubs, boutique shopping, longevity wellbeing center, fitness center, family entertainment areas, lounge bars, beach club, sports facilities, meeting spaces, ballrooms etc.
MOON’s signature attraction will be its unique lunar surface featuring an entirely authentic and active lunar colony. Guests will be able to spend 90 minutes walking on the lunar surface while exploring its amazing lunar colony. Global Space agencies will also utilize this area for Astronaut training. MOON will also incorporate luxury residential real estate, namely ‘The Private Residence at MOON’ and a Private MOON Members Club. Overall, MOON will encompass approximately 5,500,000 square feet of built area (5,16,000 square meters).
3. How challenging is it architecturally to build such a masterpiece?
MOON is a mega-scale project, it is complex; however, from an early part of the project’s evolution, we decided to recruit a global ‘A’ team of brilliant, highly sought-after, like-minded professionals who individually and collectively possessed the necessary experience to make it all work. From an architectural, engineering and design perspective, MOON will undoubtedly stand out.
4. From a tourism POV, how beneficial will it be for the economy?
Annually, MOON will deliver 10 million additional tourists to its built area. The economic impact will be huge based on the guest spend within MOON and throughout its host city. MOON will employ 5,000 staff and will strongly encourage local produce and services to be offered.
5. How different will it be from the other hospitality projects in the country?
MOON is totally unique. Every single aspect within MOON will differ from anything thus far offered around the world. Certain component names may sound familiar; however, the experiences within MOON will surprise even the seasoned traveller.
6. When can we expect to get a first glimpse of the project?
More accurate renderings and fly-through videos are currently in production. Once the actual site location has been determined, more information will become available. Pre-development will take one year, build-out will take an additional four years.
6. How popular would ‘space tourism’ be in the coming years?
Visiting space is highly desirable; however, it is and will remain extremely expensive and out of reach for many years. MOON will actually enable the masses to partake in space tourism at an affordable price point.
