Bat Yam Hotels

We've talked before about the hotel revival going on in sleepy Bat Yam, a southern suburb of Tel Aviv. There are at least three hotel projects underway, and the city hopes to add 400 additional guest rooms to its existing four properties which offer a total of 275 rooms. Of the new hotels (with exciting names like the Sun Hotel, the Sea Hotel, and the Beach Hotel...), the most heavily publicized is the Sea Hotel. Designed by Feiglin Architects, the hotel is located along the Bat Yam shore and features a distinctive triangular form with stepped terraces overlooking the sea. According to Feiglin, this was in order to ensure that there are spectacular sea views from every vantage point in the hotel. The 26- story hotel will offer over 400 rooms and one bedroom suites, each with a private balcony. Of the guestrooms, about half will be sold as timeshare residences with the owners collecting fees from renting the rooms to hotel guests, while the other half will function exclusively as hotel guestrooms. Amenities include an L-shaped infinity edged outdoor pool that is partially covered by the building (a design statement Feiglin has used in other projects as well). Other amenities include a fitness center, spa, lounge, meeting rooms, multiple dining options, events space for up to 700 guests, and an adjacent shopping center. HBA, the London-based firm responsible for the interiors, has looked to the hotel's location on the sea shore and to Shirat Hayam, the Song of the Sea, as inspirations for the design. Expect lots of natural elements and neutral colors, with biblical style ornaments and artwork. Or, as the hotel's website puts it, "Sea motifs and biblical texts are expressed in crystals, bronze, unpolished diamonds and golden hues." In another interesting touch, the front desk will be consist of an aquarium "with a selection of fish species and fish creatures". Furnishings are by Italian furniture company Francesco Molon, whose style leans to the ornate, in our opinion. While the hotel is clearly working hard to become "one of Israel's most prestigious hotels," we really hope that they aren't trying to do too much.  Meanwhile, construction is full speed ahead, and a video from earlier this month shows the foundation being laid.