Tag Archives: Saudi Arabia

Bringing together government leaders, hotel investors, owners, developers and operators at what is set to be the biggest Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) to date, FHS Saudi Arabia will take place from 7-9 May at the Al Faisaliah Hotel in Riyadh. Launched in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s G20 Secretariat in 2020, FHS Saudi Arabia is the most influential hospitality investment conference for industry leaders and senior decision-makers in the hospitality industry of Saudi Arabia and beyond. This will be the sixth industry conference organised by The Bench for the Saudi market. “We are thrilled to be back in Riyadh in May following the overwhelming success of our sold-out 2022 edition, and we’re delighted to be in a new and larger venue this year thanks to our host sponsors Al Khozama Investment Company and Al Faisaliah Hotel,” said Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench. “The demand for our hospitality events in Saudi Arabia continues to grow and with the Kingdom named as the fastest expanding tourism industry within the G20 countries in the UNWTO Tourism Barometer, there will be so much to share about tourism and hospitality investment and development at FHS Saudi Arabia this year.” This year’s conference theme, ‘Invest in Change’, highlights the importance of the positive change that can be brought forward through the investment in time, intellect and expertise in the hospitality industry to keep up with changing times and trends to better shape the future of the industry. The action-packed three-day conference agenda will include tracks from the Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF) and will have a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, start-ups and human capital development. “Delegates will have over 50 opportunities to network, learn and …

Marriott International, Inc. announced it has signed an agreement with Rua Al Madinah Holding Company to open eight hotels in the Holy City of Madinah in Saudi Arabia. Located in close proximity to the Prophet’s Mosque, Al Masjid An Nabawi, the planned properties will be part of the Rua Al Madinah Project which aims to elevate the service and travel experience for visitors of Madinah. The anticipated openings will feature approximately 4,400 rooms across eight of the company’s brands – The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Westin Hotels & Resorts, Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft Hotels, and Courtyard by Marriott. “There is a strong demand for high-quality hotel accommodation in Madinah and we are delighted to work with Rua Al Madinah Holding Company to support the enhancement and diversification of the city’s hospitality landscape,” said Satya Anand, President, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “This multi-deal agreement also strengthens our footprint in Saudi Arabia where we continue to see strong growth momentum in line with the Kingdom’s vision for its tourism sector.” “The agreement with one of the world’s leading hospitality operators brings the Rua Al Madinah project a step closer to realising its ambitions to further enrich Madinah city’s Hajj and Umrah services,” commented Eng. Ahmed Al Juhani, CEO of Rua Al Madinah Holding Company. “This collaboration will culminate in the launch of eight new hotels and nearly 4.400 rooms that will serve both residents as well as visitors from around the world looking to visit Madinah.” The eight planned properties include The Ritz-Carlton, Rua Al Madinah which is slated to offer 151 luxurious rooms and suites including a signature Ritz-Carlton suite, multiple …

Saudi kicks off its first participation at ITB Berlin, the world’s biggest travel show and convention, celebrating key milestones for Saudi’s tourism growth story and showcasing the breadth and depth of Saudi’s extraordinary destination offering. In the run up to the event, Saudi hosted members of media at the press conference session “Unexpected Arabia: Discover Saudi,” on Monday 6 March, giving a preview of Saudi’s diverse offerings and developments. During the week there will be interactive on-stand experiences, bringing to life the rich culture and heritage of one of the world’s last frontiers of tourism. Visitors will have an opportunity to immerse themselves in the authentic home of Arabia, to feel the unparalleled hospitality for which the country is known. As the largest exhibitor at this year’s edition of ITB Berlin, a record number of partners for Saudi are on the stand showcasing a record number of bookable products for the destination (200+) spanning experiences, packages, hotels, and cruises for trade partners. This presence reflects the incredible growth the country is witnessing. Since opening to tourism in 2019, Saudi has been recognized as the world’s fastest-growing tourism destination in the G20. With an extraordinary +121% increase from pre-pandemic international tourism levels, Saudi achieved 93.5 million visits in 2022 and is outpacing global tourism sector recovery as recognized by the UNWTO. As the world’s biggest investor in tourism, Saudi has committed $550bn to new destinations by 2030. Preserving heritage and history, a $50.6 billion masterplan will transform Diriyah, a 300-year-old city and birthplace of Saudi, into one of the world’s most exciting cultural sites. In 2023, Red Sea Global, the world’s most ambitious luxury tourism development, will debut its first hotel …

Hospitality Management Holding (HMH) is delighted to announce the signing of the Hotel Management Agreement of its newest hotel property ‘Corp Yanbu Hotel and Residence’ in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Located in the beautiful western port city of Yanbu and facing the red sea, the hotel boasts of 112 keys with a combination of spacious guest rooms and hotel apartments and state-of-the-art amenities with unparalleled service. It would incorporate cutting-edge design, while offering exceptional comfort, convenience, superior service, and excellent value, all underpinned with the latest technology. With truly breathtaking views from our outlets on the rooftop terrace, Corp Yanbu Hotel and Residence is designed to cater the needs of families and modern travellers in mind, this urban oasis seamlessly blends the convenience of city living with the comfort of a home away from home. The signing ceremony of the Hotel Management Agreement was supported by Royal Commission of Jubail & Yanbu and was attended by the Director General of the Investment Development Division, ENGR. Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Shanqiti, and marks a significant step in the commission’s efforts to enhance the hospitality industry in the region. This agreement will bring a new level of excellence to the hotels and resorts in Yanbu, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the local economy. ‘Whether your stay is for family leisure or business, ‘Corp Yanbu Hotel and Residence’ will offer the perfect blend of style, service, and value that will make your stay truly unforgettable. With popular amenities and a prime location, Corp Yanbu Hotel and Residence, will be the ultimate destination for the savvy traveller looking for a memorable experience’ said Ahmed Al Shagdali, …

Saudi Arabia registered more international arrivals than any other Arab nation during the first nine months of 2022, as government officials target 100 million annual visitors by the end of this decade. Owing to these unprecedented numbers, the Kingdom’s burgeoning tourism sector will represent a key focus at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023, which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 1-4 May. This year’s Saudi Summit will take place on the Global Stage and focus on the importance of the Kingdom in reshaping the regional travel and tourism landscape now that mega projects are well under way. In addition to the summit, ATM 2023 will feature a host of Saudi exhibitors, including Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA), flynas, Makkah Clock Royal Tower, Asma Hospitality Company, Eye of Riyadh, Itrip, Dur Hospitality, Sadana Real Estate Co, Saudi Amad for Airport Services & Transport Support and many more. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “The ATM 2023 Saudi Summit will offer an ideal forum in which travel professionals and policymakers from across the Middle East and beyond can explore opportunities and challenges within the Kingdom’s ever-growing tourism sector. “From upcoming giga-developments such as NEOM and the Red Sea Project to how the Kingdom’s latest visa reforms are bolstering its travel sector, we expect Saudi Arabia to represent a major drawcard during the upcoming edition of ATM,” Curtis added. Figures released by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) show that Saudi Arabia attracted more than 18 million inbound visits in the first three quarters of 2022, followed by the United Arab Emirates (14.8 million tourists) and Morocco (11 million tourists), which ranked second and third in …

Marriott International continues to reinforce its commitment to developing the next generation of hospitality leaders in Saudi Arabia with a dedicated workshop for women participants and alumni from the company’s Tahseen programme. The event took place in Riyadh in the presence of H.H. Princess Nouf Bint Faisal Bin Turki Al Saud and Anthony Capuano, Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International.   The workshop was attended by more than 40 women who are currently enrolled in or graduated from Tahseen, Marriott’s leadership programme in the Kingdom.  During the event, H.H. Princess Nouf Bint Faisal Bin Turki Al Saud inspired the group by speaking about her journey and experiences. H.H. Princess Nouf Bint Faisal Bin Turki Al Saud said, “I value this pioneering initiative by Marriott International for Young Saudi Women to learn and support the country’s Vision for 2030.  The vision of the country promises Saudi women senior, executive and other management positions in various institutions, with their knowledge, awareness and experience.” The group also heard from Marriott International’s Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Capuano, President for EMEA, Satya Anand and Chief Operating Officer, Middle East, Sandeep Walia.  Marriott’s leadership reinforced the company’s commitment to the advancement of women and increasing the presence of women leaders at all levels of the organisation.  During the workshop, all participants also went through an exercise on their personal branding which included identifying and establishing their key strengths and building leadership presence. Sandeep Walia, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East, Marriott International commented, “As part of our leadership development efforts in Saudi Arabia, we look forward to advancing the next generation of women hospitality leaders in the country.  We remain committed to investing in local talent to ensure the …

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,100 hotels across more than 95 countries, announces the reintroduction of direct franchising and management rights for its Ramada by Wyndham brand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, replacing exclusive master licence agreements for the brand in the country. With more than 900 hotels globally, Ramada is Wyndham’s largest brand in Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (EMEA), with over 200 hotels in approximately 40 countries in the region, of which over 30 in the Middle East and Africa region alone. The move is aligned with Wyndham’s’ strategy to expand the brand in the wider Middle East and Africa region, where the Company’s development pipeline includes approximately 26 hotels, of which nearly 60% are under the Ramada portfolio. Dimitris Manikis, President EMEA, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, said: “Ramada by Wyndham is not only our biggest brand in EMEA but also one of the most well-known brands by travellers around the world. This strategic move marks an important step in helping us further expand in a high-potential market like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where there is a significant need for high quality mid-scale hotels. We are committed to contributing to the development of the Kingdom’s tourism through the expansion of our mid-market and economy presence, to help bring even more accommodation options to suit all visitors to the Kingdom.” As part of the Company’s expansion plan in the Saudi Arabia, Wyndham has recently opened Ramada by Wyndham Riyadh King Fahd Road, its 13th hotel in the country. The new hotel boasts 189 rooms and suites, providing warm hospitality and comfort right in the heart of the city. Alongside contemporary …

His Excellency the Minister of Tourism, Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb, inaugurated the MT Unified Platform, which is the latest government service platform in the Kingdom, during the Digital Government Forum 2022 themed “Towards a Promising Digital Horizon.” The forum was organized by the Digital Government Authority recently in Riyadh, while several government agencies participated in the presence of Their Excellencies, as well as experts, specialists, and decision-makers in the field of digital government locally and internationally. In its first edition, the forum aims to showcase digital government achievements and success stories locally and internationally. It also seeks to enable digital community elites to meet, communicate, exchange experiences, build partnerships, discuss challenges and best modern technological practices, review future digital governments directions, and discuss investment opportunities within the Saudi digital sector. The forum also included a presentation of the most prominent digital government products, in addition to several new publications, most notably MT’s Unified Tourism Platform. The platform aims to attract investors and provide services to job seekers and tourism service providers as part of MT’s efforts to activate the Digital Tourism Strategy launched by His Excellency the Minister at the beginning of this year. The Unified Platform has an attractive design and a smart user interface that provides MT’s various services in a user-friendly fashion. It also provides information on each service as well as step-by-step explanations to ensure the users get the best experience. The Ministry was also keen on supporting the platform with the best technological services and allocated a technical support team for it to provide assistance. The Unified Platform development is part of MT’s efforts to enhance the digital transformation process in the Kingdom and contribute …

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)  unveiled groundbreaking new data detailing the climate footprint of the global Travel & Tourism sector. The findings were launched today at the global tourism body’s 22nd Global Summit in Riyadh by the World Travel & Tourism Council and the Saudi-based Sustainable Global Tourism Center. In a world-first, this comprehensive research covers 185 countries across all regions and will be updated each year with the latest figures. During her opening speech Julia Simpson, President & CEO of WTTC announced the findings of the Environmental & Social Research (ESR). In one of the largest research projects of its kind ever undertaken, WTTC can for the first time ever, accurately report and track the impact industries within the sector have on the environment. Previous estimates have suggested that the global Travel & Tourism sector was responsible for up to 11% of all emissions. However, WTTC’s pioneering research shows that in 2019 the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions totalled just 8.1% globally. The divergence of the sector’s economic growth from its climate footprint between 2010 and 2019 is evidence that Travel & Tourism’s economic growth is decoupling from its greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions have been falling consistently since 2010 as the result of technological developments, as well as the introduction of a number of energy efficiency measures across industries within the sector. Between 2010 and 2019 our sector’s GDP has grown on average 4.3% annually whilst its environmental footprint has only increased by 2.4%. The broader Environmental & Social Research (ESR) will include measures of the sector’s impact against a range of indicators, including pollutants, energy sources, water use, as well as social data, including age, wage and gender profiles of Travel & Tourism …

Sabre Corporation hosted an interactive event for key travel players in Saudi Arabia. The event, which took place in Riyadh last week brought together key decision-makers from travel companies, online agencies and corporations to discuss the evolving industry landscape in the kingdom and the region, the need for digital transformation and Sabre’s latest technology solutions. “Saudi Arabia is a particularly exciting country to be in right now,” said Abdul-Razzaq Iyer, vice president, Sabre Travel Network Middle East. “It has a bright vision to build a progressive global tourism brand, and our customers need the right technology to help them leverage this unique opportunity for growth.  In parallel, the industry has become more complex post-pandemic, so simplifying the travel journey will be particularly important.  We will continue to deliver best-in-class technologies, including AI-driven products to travel agencies, across the region to help our travel partners tap into this growth.” At the Riyadh event, Sabre showcased its latest technology, including corporate solutions, application programming interface (APIs) and automation, and outlined how these solutions can increase efficiency through automation, allowing agents to spend more time to serve their customers and keep track of latest trends.  Solutions in the online and mobile space were also highlighted, in addition to innovative point-of-sale, Sabre Red 360, which offers an intuitive, customizable workflow and significant benefits for travel agents, including reduced training time and costs.  The technology is proven to reduce training times from weeks to hours. “We are helping some of the leading travel agencies in Saudi enter the online space, through access to intelligent technology that can personalize the customer journey,” continued Abdul-Razzaq. “Travel agencies continue to evolve, adapting to new consumer needs and leveraging …