First Residence Inn by Marriott and fourth Courtyard announced for Middle East by Marriott International

Published October 17th, 2010 - 10:48 GMT

Marriott property

Marriott International (NYSE:MAR) 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.

Marriott will manage both hotels under a long-term agreement recently concluded with Abdulrahman Saad Al-Rashid & Sons Co. Ltd. Both properties are currently under construction in two adjacent towers separated by a shared swimming pool in the northern part of Jizan City close to the municipality and the new JizanUniversity.

“We’re thrilled by the continued expansion of our lodging portfolio in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to participate in the economic development of Jizan,” said Ed Fuller, president & managing director of international lodging for Marriott International. “Tourism in the Kingdom has strong growth potential with an average increase of 6.5 per cent year-over-year projected through 2014. We’re confident that both these hotels will be successful from Day One because of the power of their brand names, the value and comfort they both offer, their integration with a modern shopping mall and Jizan’s easy accessibility to the renowned offshore FarasanIsland archipelago which is recognized for its spectacular coral reefs and abundant underwater life.”

Mr. Sulaiman Al Rashid, deputy general manager of Abdulrahman Saad Al-Rashid & Sons Co. Ltd, said that the opening of the Courtyard by Marriott and Residence Inn properties will set a new level of hospitality service in the southern province since it is experiencing huge growth in the private and public sectors under the special attention of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques which, in turn, will lead to a tremendous expansion of the hospitality sector in Jizan City.

Residence Inn by Marriott Jizan

The Residence Inn by Marriott Jizan will offer 83 spacious and modern studios and one- and two-bedroom suites with each studio unit connecting with a one or two bedroom apartment. Designed for stays of five nights or more, each suite will include a fully equipped kitchen and separate living area, flat screen TV and Marriott’s highly acclaimed bed and bath linens. Rates will vary depending on length of stay.

A special feature will be the Residence Inn lobby that will offer a club-like environment and will include a self-service lounge/coffee shop, a library and a small meeting room. A “grab and go” kiosk/market offering snacks, basic food items, newspapers, magazines and various sundries will be located adjacent to the front desk. The hotel will also host a complimentary weekly social hour.

Recreational amenities will include separate fitness rooms and lockers for men and women. Guests will share an outdoor pool area with those staying at the adjacent Courtyard by Marriott hotel. Other services will include the ability to print documents from apartment to business center, baggage and package delivery services and on-site parking.

Courtyard by Marriott Jizan

The Courtyard by Marriott Jizan will have contemporary, stylishly designed accommodations including 15 junior suites and two suites. King-bedded guest rooms and suites will be interconnected with double-bedded rooms to accommodate families during school holidays. Guest rooms will feature high speed internet access, flat screen TV, in-room safes.

For dining and entertainment, the hotel will have a casual restaurant serving three meals daily, a lobby lounge and a juice bar on the pool deck. Recreational amenities will include a shared fitness room with separate lockers, sauna and steam room for male and female guests. The outdoor swimming pool will be shared with guests of the Residence Inn. Other amenities will include 24-hour room service with limited menu, an in-room mini-bar, a “grab and go” kiosk/market in the lobby.

Residence Inn is Marriott’s second largest lodging brand with nearly 600 properties in North and Central America and the Caribbean. Courtyard ranks as Marriott’s largest brand with nearly 900 hotels throughout the world.

Marriott International currently manages three hotels in Saudi Arabia: the 389-room Riyadh Marriott, the 210-room Jeddah Marriott and the 150-room Medina Marriott. In addition, Marriott has signed management contracts for the following hotels which are also under construction: