Torasna & Barbell to Reimagine 500 Heritage Stays Across Egypt

For years, Egypt’s most important sites have been preserved for admiration, not habitation. 
Torasna, the heritage development company behind landmark sites including the Grand Egyptian Museum, is now working with local hospitality group Brassbell to challenge that divide—transforming 500 historic homes across Egypt into stays that look like they jumped straight out of a period drama (but with Wi-Fi.)
“Egypt is entering a defining phase for tourism,” says Ahmed Shaboury, Chairman and CEO of Torasna. “Heritage-led hospitality has a critical role to play in shaping its next chapter.” 
With that mission in mind, the two groups are investing upwards of EGP 500 million over three years to take culturally significant lodgings—some hidden behind years of beige bureaucracy—and turn them into places that are, in the words of Ahmed Ibrahim, CEO of Brassbell, “distinctive, sustainable, and relevant over the long term.” Think restored palaces with soaring ceilings, cosy boutique hideaways with intricate tilework, and courtyards with stories to tell and some great coffee to serve.  But why now? After 19 million tourists explored Egypt in 2025, the country is not only aiming to double its lodging options, but the travel appetite is also shifting—people aren’t just looking for pyramids anymore. They want streets with character, cafés buzzing with life, and neighbourhoods that feel like they were made for stories—yours included.