Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) chaired by HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud announced the development of the second Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at "Kingdom Oasis" will be the center piece of a 3.8M sqm residential development part of the of "Kingdom Riyadh Land" that is16M sqm, will be offering unparalleled living community experience in Riyadh.
A French national, Chef Echasseriau has over 17 years of culinary arts experience, including six as an executive chef. He will oversee the entire culinary direction for all the Rosewood Corniche’s food and beverage venues including the acclaimed Ginza I Chome, Noodles, Habsburg, and Soleil, in addition to managing the hotel’s in-room dining and catering.
The seasoned hotelier, who has more than 18 years of international hospitality experience, arrives in the Kingdom from Four Seasons Hotel Doha, where he spent four years as Director of Rooms. Certified by the University of Bilkent in Turkey, Demiroz holds an impressive track record in the hospitality industry. Prior to his posting in Doha, his 12-year Four Seasons tenure has taken him from Istanbul to Newport Beach, Berlin and Sharm El Sheikh. His passionate and hands-on style of leadership made him an ideal candidate to assist with opening task forces in Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh, Seychelles and most recently Beirut.
Marriott International will introduce its first Residence Inn by Marriott property for extended stay travelers in the Middle East with an 83-unit hotel in the Saudi Arabian province of Jizan on the Red Sea in 2012. It will be part of a mixed-use development that will also include a new 129-room upper moderate priced Courtyard by Marriott hotel that, when opened, will be the fourth Courtyard property in the Middle East, and a 58,000-square meter shopping mall.
Fillfilah Catering, located in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, experienced its most profitable year in its company history, a sign both of the success of the company, as well as the strength of the local catering sector.
Hilton Worldwide today announced the signing of a Management Agreement with Saudi Arabia's King Saud University Endowment for the 241-room Hilton Riyadh King Saud University and the 155-room Hilton Riyadh King Saud University Residence - both expected to open by 2012.
Fillfilah Restaurants, located in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, commemorates its 20th anniversary this year with major brand improvements as it achieves its best performing year in history. Revenues, profits and customer satisfaction scores are at their highest ever.
At Park Hyatt Jeddah, TAC has recently installed the Spa & Activity Software "Reservation Assistant" in Saudi Arabia for the first time and with this breaks the 50-countries-barriere. The software now takes care of optimized allocation of resources and increased efficiency in spas and wellness operations in 51 countries on all continents around the globe.
Riyadh is leading the way in the hospitality market recovery for Saudi Arabia, according to a new report by real estate investment and advisory firm, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), with occupancy levels for "quality hotels" rising to 69 per cent at the end of the second quarter of this year.
As part of the focus on ‘Unlocking Investment Opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa’ at AHIC 2010, the participants will be discussing opportunities for hotel investment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Saudi-based investment holding company, Siraj Capital, today announced the locations of the first three Holiday Inn Express hotels to become operational in the Kingdom.
Hilton Worldwide today announced the signing of a management agreement with Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Almousa Trading Group for the first Doubletree by Hilton in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Al Khobar.
Raffles is opening a luxury hotel in Mecca that will offer weary pilgrims a taste of the high life, including a coffee sommelier, a chocolate room and 24-hour butler service. The new hotel will provide accommodation that varies wildly from the basic fare normally experienced by Muslims executing the fifth pillar of Islam. The pilgrimage to Mecca typically involves great hardship, including months spent travelling on foot and sleeping in the open air while en route.
New hotels are rising up in Riyadh to help meet demand from business travelers visiting the capital of Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer, that is avoiding the worst of the global economic downturn. Riyadh had some of the highest average room rates and revenue per available room levels in the world last year at $244 and $175 respectively, according to business advisory firm Deloitte. And average room rates climbed 18.5% through the first quarter but have leveled off since.
McLaren International Pty Ltd today announced that it has provided Jazz Call Accounting and DuVoice Voice Mail to Hilton Hotels Corporation’s first Hilton Garden Inn property in the Middle East & Africa. Located amidst the bustle of Olaya Street, in the heart of Riyadh’s business district, the newly opened Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya features 180 guest rooms and suites equipped with a range of premium business and lifestyle amenities. Implementing only the leading brands, Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya has entrusted ‘Best of Breed’ Technology provider McLaren International with these critical Enterprise Solutions to any hotels’ revenue and service source.
Finamore joins the Rosewood team in Riyadh with more than three decades of experience in the hospitality industry. He has been a key asset to many of the world's leading hotels and premier hospitality brands throughout his illustrious career. Finamore was most recently Executive Vice President of Operations for Echelon Resorts, a 5,000 room multi-branded development in Las Vegas, Nevada. Previously, his 14-year association with esteemed hoteliers The Peninsula Group saw him in top executive positions in several of their Asian properties, as well as General Manager of The Peninsula Chicago, a critically acclaimed property which opened in 2001. In addition to The Peninsula Group, he worked with Hilton International Hotels for 10 years, adding his considerable talents as a top executive to strengthen the reputation of Hilton properties in key markets.
The Elaf Group of Companies, a business organisation serving the Saudi Arabian travel, tourism and hotel industries, has announced that it has recently launched a major expansion initiative in the Saudi hotel sector, driven by a significant surge in religious tourism, which according to recent reports has achieved a remarkable 30 per cent growth in the first quarter of 2009. Elaf has particularly prepared for the new Umrah season that started in February 2009, noting a considerable growth trend as around 3.5 million pilgrims are expected to visit the Kingdom in the current Umrah season
The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide, announces the Al Muna Karim Radisson Blu Hotel in Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The 322 rooms-property is scheduled to open in Q3 2009 to welcome its first guests during the holy month of Ramadan and is Rezidor’s second hotel in town – the group also develops the Al Madinah Paradise Radisson Blu Resort which will welcome the first guests in Q4 2010.
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts announced today the opening of Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina Club and Spa, marking its entry into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Set among beautifully landscaped gardens on the Corniche of Jeddah, Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club and Spa is an innovative five-star sanctuary where contemporary luxury and exceptional service meets unrivalled views of the Red Sea and King Fahd fountain. The hotel enjoys a prime location in the very heart of the city, within the esteemed Al Hamra District at the Equestrian Club of Jeddah, and just minutes away from the central business district.
Raffles Hotels & Resorts has announced that it will be managing a new hotel in the Holy city of Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The all-suite hotel is set to be the jewel of the prominent Abraj Al Bait Complex developed by Saudi Binladin Corporation in the Development of King Abdal Aziz Endowment Project, and will enjoy an outstanding location, with suites as well as a spacious outdoor dining terrace overlooking Al Masjid al Haram.