Tristan Delmas Appointed General Manager of Chedi Wadi Safar in Diriyah

Chedi Hospitality has appointed Tristan Delmas as General Manager of Chedi Wadi Safar, bringing more than 15 years of international ultra-luxury hospitality, hotel operations and strategic advisory experience to one of Saudi Arabia’s most anticipated new hotel openings.

The appointment comes as Chedi Wadi Safar prepares to open within the prestigious Wadi Safar destination in Diriyah, close to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif and approximately 15 minutes from central Riyadh.

Delmas will lead the property’s pre-opening and operational strategy, overseeing the development of its guest experience, service philosophy and positioning within Saudi Arabia’s expanding ultra-luxury hospitality market.

What experience does Tristan Delmas bring to Chedi Wadi Safar?

Tristan Delmas arrives at Chedi Wadi Safar with an international career spanning some of the hospitality industry’s most recognised luxury brands and destinations.

His experience includes leadership positions at Burj Al Arab, One&Only One Za’abeel, Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris, and Park Hyatt properties in Beijing and Washington, D.C.

He most recently served as Head of Hospitality at Barnes International, where he led the development of the company’s hospitality division and helped establish its French Art de Vivre approach.

Before joining Barnes International, Delmas served as Hotel Manager, Pre-Opening at One&Only One Za’abeel in Dubai. In that position, he played a key role in the launch of the major destination development, overseeing operational readiness across its hotel, residences and extensive culinary offering.

His earlier career also included a role as Hotel Manager at Burj Al Arab, one of Dubai’s most internationally recognised ultra-luxury hotels.

How will Delmas shape Chedi Wadi Safar?

As General Manager, Delmas will be responsible for the property’s pre-opening preparations and operational strategy, with a particular focus on service, guest experience and the overall positioning of Chedi Wadi Safar.

His background combines operational hotel leadership with strategic advisory experience. Alongside his positions with major international hotel groups, he has worked with HVS, the global hospitality advisory firm, and contributed to hospitality development projects across Saudi Arabia, the Maldives, Europe and the wider Middle East and North Africa region.

This combination of operational and development experience is expected to support the property’s transition from project to operating luxury destination.

Why is Chedi Wadi Safar important to the Chedi brand?

Delmas’s appointment coincides with an important period of development for Chedi Hospitality as the group introduces a refreshed brand identity and its new brand essence, A Voyage Unbound™.

The philosophy is centred on meaningful exploration and encourages guests to experience destinations through different dimensions, including space, landscape, shared presence, creativity and sensory detail.

Chedi Wadi Safar will be the first property in the portfolio to fully implement the refreshed brand identity, making its opening an important step in the evolution of the Chedi Hotels brand.

The property is therefore expected to serve not only as a new luxury hotel in Diriyah but also as a platform for expressing the group’s updated global brand direction.

What will Chedi Wadi Safar offer guests?

Chedi Wadi Safar is being developed within the Wadi Safar masterplan, an area designed around luxury hospitality, leisure and destination experiences in the landscape surrounding Diriyah.

The property will follow Chedi’s established approach to understated luxury, intuitive service and culturally rooted hospitality, while drawing on the heritage and natural environment of Saudi Arabia.

The development will be positioned within the Greg Norman-designed Wadi Safar Signature Golf Course, adding a major leisure component to the hotel’s setting.

The hotel is planned to comprise an intimate collection of approximately 85 suites and villas, complemented by 20 branded private villas designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG).

Signature dining and wellness experiences will form additional elements of the destination, creating a hospitality proposition that extends beyond accommodation.

How does the property fit into Diriyah’s tourism development?

Chedi Wadi Safar forms part of the wider transformation of Diriyah into an international cultural and luxury tourism destination.

Its location places the property close to At-Turaif, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important heritage landmarks within the Diriyah development.

The combination of heritage, contemporary hospitality, landscape and high-end leisure is intended to create a distinctive visitor proposition for both international and regional travellers.

For Chedi Hospitality, the project also represents an opportunity to establish its refreshed brand identity in a destination that is undergoing significant tourism and hospitality development.

What does Tristan Delmas’ appointment mean for the opening?

The appointment places Delmas at the centre of the property’s transition towards opening, with responsibility spanning operational readiness, service standards, guest experience and commercial positioning.

His previous pre-opening experience at One&Only One Za’abeel is particularly relevant to the role, while his work across established luxury properties provides additional operational experience across different international markets.

With Chedi Wadi Safar expected to introduce the refreshed Chedi brand identity to guests for the first time, the General Manager’s role will extend beyond day-to-day hotel operations.

The property is intended to become a significant expression of the group’s evolving approach to luxury hospitality, combining a contemporary service philosophy with the cultural character and landscape of Saudi Arabia.