Melia Hotels International to open a spectacular hotel in the centre of Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia

• The hotel will operate under the Gran Meliá brand and is due to open in 2015
• After the opening of the Meliá Dubai a year ago, the company remains committed to this rapidly growing market

Meliá Hotels International recently announced in its quarterly report a continued and intense commitment to grow at a rate of around one hotel every 3 weeks both in consolidated markets and particularly in emerging markets. In 2013 the company has opened new markets in Latin America, Europe and the Middle East, with hotels such as the Gran Meliá Riyadh in Saudi Arabia which the company announced today is already under construction and will open in 24 months time.

The new Gran Meliá Riyadh will be housed in a very modern glass building in a privileged urban location in the so-called Cairo Square, in the heart of the Saudi capital. The building dominates the parks that give the city its name ("place of gardens and trees") and is surrounded by shopping centres and government ministries and offices.

The hotel will initially provide 252 rooms, several restaurants, a Spa and Wellness centre, and a convention centre measuring approximately 2,500 m2. Meliá will take an active role in the final design through a technical assistance agreement reached with the owner, thus allowing the company to ensure compliance with the high standards demanded by the luxury Gran Meliá brand, already home to such important city hotels as the Gran Meliá Rome Villa Agrippina and the Gran Meliá Fénix in Madrid, or unique resorts such as the Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora in Tenerife or the Gran Meliá Puerto Rico, amongst others.

For Gabriel Escarrer, who personally attended the announcement event in Riyadh, "Saudi Arabia is a fantastic location for the luxury hotel industry, and our Gran Meliá brand will exceed the expectations of discerning, contemporary Arab business and leisure travellers thanks to its powerful service culture based around the Red Glove Service, a fusion of the Red Carpet and the White Glove concepts.

"After the success - continues Escarrer- of a project such as the Gran Meliá Rome, the Gran Meliá Riyadh is another sign of our firm commitment to consolidate the Gran Meliá brand internationally and to further enhance our presence in a market in which we began in 2012 with the opening of the Meliá Dubai, and we would like to thank the hotel owners very much for their confidence in us. It is a huge honour for us to sign our 1st hotel in Saudi Arabia with Al Ajlan Group, a family company with a long and impeccable track record, like Meliá Hotels International, and I'm sure we shall achieve a very fruitful cooperation and synergies by combining their wide experience in the market with our know-how in the international hospitality industry".