Industry News

Tue 22 Jan 2019

Tue 15 Jan 2019

Tue 27 Dec 2016

Saudi Arabia is building a smart industrial city in Asfan, Jeddah, covering an area of 500ha.

Fri 23 Dec 2016

Minor Hotel Group says Anantara Jeddah Resort will offer 226 rooms, 102 villas; set to open in 2019.

Mon 19 Dec 2016

Langham Hospitality Group announced an agreement with Advanced Hotels Company to manage a luxury urban hotel in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Tue 13 Dec 2016

Hotel operator Minor Hotels has announced plans to debut its luxury Anantara brand in Saudi Arabia, with a property in Jeddah.

Wed 07 Dec 2016

Saudi Arabia's hospitality industry is set for solid growth as revenues are forecast to reach $23.1 billion by 2020, indicating an annual average growth of 6.2 per cent from 2015, a new report unveiled.

Wed 07 Dec 2016

Emaar Middle East, a subsidiary of Emaar Properties, launched its third luxury residential project, Emaar Residences, in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah Gate.

Tue 06 Dec 2016

With the entry of international hotel brands like Conrad, Marriott, and Best Western into Saudi Arabia's Makkah, the hospitality sector continues to reflect market confidence, according to a new report.

Mon 28 Nov 2016

Backed by a growing number of modern facilities and government support, Makkah is set to become a new destination for the MICE tourism industry in Saudi Arabia, according to industry experts.

Mon 21 Nov 2016

Hotel operator Marriott International has announced plans to open a new Four Points by Sheraton property in the Saudi capital city of Riyadh.

Mon 21 Nov 2016

Swiss International enters Riyadh with Swiss International Royal Hotel and Swiss Spirit Hotel & Suites Metropolitan

Sun 20 Nov 2016

Ismail Sirry, general manager of the recently opened Conrad Makkah lists his top 10 tips on effectively running a hotel in the region.

Mon 14 Nov 2016

Aloft Hotels, part of Marriott International, Inc has officially opened Aloft Dhahran in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Mon 07 Nov 2016

AL Khozama Management Company announced that it is working with the global hospitality company Hakkasan Group

Wed 02 Nov 2016

The first Rocco Forte hotel in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Assila Hotel is due to open for its soft opening in mid November.

Mon 31 Oct 2016

Mövenpick Hotel City Star Jeddah, a unique European-style property, marks the Swiss brand’s third conquest in one of Saudi Arabia’s fastest-growing cities.

Fri 28 Oct 2016

Shuaa Capital Saudi Arabia says Centro Shaheen Jeddah Hotel is one of three properties being built in Gulf kingdom

Sun 23 Oct 2016

Preferred Hotels & Resorts, a leading hospitality service provider, continues to expand its Middle East portfolio with the addition of two new five-star hotels in Saudi Arabia.

Thu 20 Oct 2016

Inbound arrivals to Saudi Arabia will reach over 20 million by 2020, as the religious tourism sector flourishes in line with increasing demand to join the annual Hajj pilgrimage, the most important religious event of the year in...

Wed 19 Oct 2016

Restaurant chain wagamama has opened a new 280-cover restaurant in Jeddah, its first location in Saudi Arabia.

Tue 18 Oct 2016

CapitaLand said its wholly-owned serviced residence arm, The Ascott, had clinched contracts to manage another three properties in Saudi Arabia, including its first in the Islamic holy city of Mecca.

Fri 14 Oct 2016

Centro Shaheen Jeddah opened its doors last month becoming the first of five Centro by Rotana properties scheduled to open in Saudi Arabia by end of next year. SHUAA Capital is the fund manager and developer of this joint...

Tue 11 Oct 2016

US theme park giant Six Flags has signed a deal to build amusement parks in Saudi Arabia, with the hopes of encouraging Saudis to spend more money at home.

Sat 01 Oct 2016

Saudi Arabia’s increase in visa fees for travellers is expected to earn the country millions of riyals from pilgrims without dampening tourism figures, say travel industry experts.

Sat 01 Oct 2016

Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts has officially opened the Mövenpick Hotel City Star Jeddah. The opening marks the group’s 11th hotel in Saudi Arabia.

Sun 25 Sep 2016

More than 8,000 tour guides will be required to cope with Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning tourism sector by 2030, an official has said.

Sat 17 Sep 2016

More than 300 new hotels housing almost 85,000 guest rooms are set to open across the Middle East and Africa next year, latest industry figures have revealed.

Thu 15 Sep 2016

Among the countries in the Middle East and Africa, Saudi Arabia reported the most rooms In Construction with 35,611 rooms in 79 hotels. United Arab Emirates followed with 28,082 rooms in 97 hotels.

Tue 06 Sep 2016

Aloft Riyadh features the first-ever keyless entry in the country and caters to the hyper-connected global traveller.

Sun 04 Sep 2016

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has opened its first Aloft-branded hotel in Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh, it announced on Sunday.

Tue 30 Aug 2016

Turkish hospitality group, Rixos Hotels, is currently in talks for potential expansion plans in to new markets including the negotiation of new hotels in Saudi Arabia.

Mon 22 Aug 2016

The Public investment fund (PIF) represented by the Saudi Real Estate Development Company (Dar Al-Hijrah), and Dur Hospitality, the Saudi company specialised in hotel development and operation through local & international hotel...

Thu 18 Aug 2016

Shaza Hotels is gearing up for its expansion in the Middle East, with several new hotels in the pipeline in various locations across the region.

Tue 16 Aug 2016

As Jeddah attracts 11% of the total spending of local and foreign tourists in the kingdom, the city is boosting investment in the tourism industry, Arab News reported.

Tue 16 Aug 2016

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide have revealed further expansion plans in Saudi Arabia with the signing of a new Sheraton in the holy city of Makkah.

Mon 15 Aug 2016

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced its further expansion in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the signing of a new Sheraton in the holy city of Makkah.

Mon 15 Aug 2016

Tourism spending in Saudi Arabia is expected to exceed SR144.3 billion ($38.4 billion) this year, according to official forecasts.

Mon 15 Aug 2016

Saudi Arabia’s new ‘post-oil’ economy plan as outlined in ‘Vision 2030,’ which was announced recently, is receiving a huge boost from the tourism sector with the influx of tourists visiting the Kingdom for their Hajj pilgrimage,...

Mon 15 Aug 2016

Tourism is set to take on a pivotal role in the Saudi Arabian economy, with business, leisure and faith-based travel all identified as vehicles to raise the industry's profile and generate both revenue and employment.

Sat 13 Aug 2016

There are many large hotels around the world but Saudi Arabia will soon have the largest. It is set to open in Mecca next year and will have at least 2,000 more rooms than the biggest hotel in the world today.

Sun 07 Aug 2016

RIYADH — The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) has announced that it will establish 140 new heritage projects as part of its national reform program plan.

Thu 04 Aug 2016

Swiss International proudly announces the opening of Swiss Spirit Hotel & Suites Metropolitan in Riyadh which is expected to start its operations by the end of 2016.

Mon 01 Aug 2016

More than SR26 billion ($6.9 billion) of tourism projects were approved by Saudi Arabia’s National Transformation Program on Sunday, according to local media.

Thu 28 Jul 2016

Over the last decade, the number of Umrah visitors entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from all over the world has tripled, recently hitting the impressive eight million mark. This figure is set to increase even further in the...

Wed 27 Jul 2016

With Saudi Vision 2030 pivotal to the diversification and restructuring of the economy in lieu of decreasing oil prices, both Riyadh and Jeddah continue to maintain an overall slowdown in performance, according to JLL.

Tue 26 Jul 2016

Food consumption in Saudi Arabia will grow by 7.3 per cent in 2016, outperforming other regional markets, according to recent industry reports.

Sat 23 Jul 2016

Saudi Arabia has the most hotel rooms under construction in the Middle East and Africa, with more than 35,000 being built, according to hospitality analysts STR.

Thu 21 Jul 2016

Rotana, is getting ready to celebrate the opening of its first hotel in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Centro Shaheen Jeddah. Perfectly suited for business and leisure travelers, the Centro Shaheen features 252 modern, stylish,...

Thu 23 Jun 2016

Al Zamil real estate group, an arm of the Zamil Group, has signed an agreement with hospitality chain Swiss International for a new hotel at Al Qassim Touristic City project in Saudi Arabia.

Tue 07 Jun 2016

RIYADH: The much-applauded Saudi Vision 2030, which has captured world attention, lends strong support to the hotel and tourism sector as a significant source of revenue, while promising job opportunities in a series of sweeping...

Fri 03 Jun 2016

Saudi Arabia is looking to increasingly attract both international and domestic travellers by expanding its hospitality offerings to offer visitors a greater range of long-stay options, hospitality experts have said.

Mon 02 May 2016

For the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced the development of important new hotel projects in these two dynamic destinations.

Wed 20 Apr 2016

Dur Hospitality is ahead of its schedule to invest $400 million in 20 new hotels in Saudi Arabia. Formerly Saudi Hotels & Resorts Co (Sharaco), the company rebranded in 2014 and refocused its efforts to represent the epitome of...

Wed 20 Apr 2016

Louvre Hotels Group is looking to expand its presence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by opening 40 budget and economy hotels over the next five years.

Wed 20 Apr 2016

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts (MHR) has revealed plans to open its first hotel and apartment property in Jeddah in 2017 in a bid to meet strong demand for branded extended-stay accommodation in Saudi Arabia's booming seaport city.

Tue 19 Apr 2016

Australia’s largest privately owned hotel management company StayWell Hospitality Group (SWHG) announced the signing of a management agreement to open and operate the company’s first Park Regis properties in Makkah Saudi Arabia.

Fri 15 Apr 2016

Hotel giant Rezidor has announced the acquisition of the Nofa Resort and Club, a luxury private member’s club located outside Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.The existing property with 57 luxury villas will join the group in the third...

Wed 06 Apr 2016

The hospitality industry in Saudi Arabia is witnessing a significant shift towards the development of mid-range hotels in 2016, according to a new report. <br/> In a market traditionally dominated by five-star hotels, the new...

Thu 31 Mar 2016

RIYADH – Organized by the Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTH) and Dur Hospitality, The Hotel Investment Conference, was held last March 28 March on the sidelines of the Saudi Travel & Tourism Investment Market...

Tue 22 Mar 2016

The holy city of Makkah is leading hotel development in Saudi Arabia with 24,133 rooms currently in the construction pipeline, according to a new report. Riyadh follows with 10,053 rooms and Jeddah with 6,980 rooms under...

Fri 19 Feb 2016

A record 47,431 rooms and 124 hotel projects are currently under development in Saudi Arabia, according to a new report. <br/> <br/> The majority of projects are in the final construction and pre-opening stages with 52 projects...

Wed 17 Feb 2016

It is not the most exciting of times, economically speaking. Crude prices are spiraling down, hitting the lowest ‘per barrel’ price since 2003. Last year ended with clocking a deficit of $96 billion. <br/> <br/> This year too is...

Wed 17 Feb 2016

A record 47,431 rooms and 124 hotel projects are currently under development in Saudi Arabia, according to a new report. <br/> <br/> The majority of projects are in the final construction and pre-opening stages with 52 projects...

Sun 14 Feb 2016

According to reports, a majority of a US $628 billion budget will be allocated to hospitality, to support the expected influx of tourists over the next few years. Inbound tourism to Saudi Arabia is predicted to increase by 13%...

Fri 12 Feb 2016

This revolution will be neither political nor ideological. Instead, it will come in the form of keys –hundreds of them, representing millions of dollars' worth of investment.

Thu 11 Feb 2016

Saudi Arabia remains a popular destination for GCC tourists, with around 7.4 million visitors entering the kingdom in the first six months of 2015, an increase of 25 per cent compared to the same period in 2014, according to...

Thu 11 Feb 2016

Saudi Arabia remains a popular destination for GCC tourists, with around 7.4 million visitors entering the kingdom in the first six months of 2015, an increase of 25 per cent compared to the same period in 2014, according to...

Wed 10 Feb 2016

JEDDAH: Jeddah’s hospitality market is expected to witness the entry of more than 5,333 hotel keys between 2016 and 2018, primarily represented by 5- and 4-star properties, each accounting for 51 percent and 31 percent of total...

Mon 08 Feb 2016

RIYADH: The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) is conducting a study to see how Saudi women can be employed in the food and hospitality sector, including as cooks, waitresses and receptionists.

Sat 06 Feb 2016

Currently serving over 140 hotels across GCC - United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar - Averda presented the Conclave attendants with an in-depth view of its specialized environmentally tailored solutions,...

Thu 04 Feb 2016

Brussels - Rezidor, one of the most dynamic hotel groups worldwide and a member of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, introduces the lifestyle select brand Radisson Red to Jeddah, the second largest city in Saudi Arabia: the...

Mon 01 Feb 2016

JEDDAH - The Elaf Group, a SEDCO Holding Group company and a leading provider of travel, tourism and hospitality services, has expressed key confidence in achieving strong growth for 2016 across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA)...

Fri 22 Jan 2016

Beginning this year, the Midwest chain plans to open at least 20 new hotels across the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent over the next five years as part of a long-term commitment to growth.

Tue 19 Jan 2016

JEDDAH: With the development of economic cities (ECs) occupying a pivotal position in the Saudi economy, the role assumed by the private sector in sharing major part of the work has become all the more important.

Mon 18 Jan 2016

As the second largest Arab state (after Algeria), development in the GCC country of Saudi Arabia is unlikely to be limited by lack of space. Constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, Jeddah, Riyadh, and the religious sites...

Wed 13 Jan 2016

After Africa, Indian hotel Management Company, Sarovar Hotels will explore opportunities for expansion into Middle East hotel market. In an informal chat, Ajay Bakaya, Executive Director, Sarovar Group said that they have begun...

Wed 13 Jan 2016

Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts yesterday announced that it has entered into an agreement with Mohammed Ibrahim Al Subeaei & Sons Investment Company (MASIC) to manage the 180-room Swissôtel Al Khobar in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Tue 12 Jan 2016

TRI Consulting associate director Chris Hewett tells Hotelier: “2015 was a challenging year for hoteliers in the region with macroeconomic, currency fluctuations and geopolitical factors all impacting performance levels. With oil...

Tue 12 Jan 2016

Wyndham Hotel Group has revealed plans to open four new hotels in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Jordan under its Ramada Worldwide brand.

Mon 11 Jan 2016

Despite limited new supply during the third quarter of 2015, the hotel market segment in Saudi Arabia continued to display a positive trend with a number of new luxury and upper upscale projects lined up for completion in two...

Thu 07 Jan 2016

Riyadh-based Dur Hospitality Company (DHC) will invest $32 million in an expansion of the Makarem Arriyadh Hotel at King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh following an agreement signed recently with the General Authority of...

Tue 05 Jan 2016

The Saudi-based Elaf Group, a SEDCO Holding company, recently hosted a meeting with His Excellency Hisham Zazou, the Egyptian Minister of Tourism at the Elaf Jeddah Hotel, Red Sea Mall to discuss ways to reinforce tourism for both...