Luxury hotel group Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts has announced two significant new properties in Saudi Arabia this month, bringing its portfolio in the Kingdom to five, three of which were added in the last two months alone.
The group assumes management of the 189-room Le Meridien Medinah and the 111-room Le Meridien Taif in one of the group's most rapid periods of country-specific growth in recent history.
Saudi Arabia has long been identified as an area for major development over the next two years. The group already manages the 329-room Le Gulf Meridien Al-Khobar, the 284-room Le Jeddah Meridien and the 231-room Le Majd Meridien Makkah, which was added in June.
"In addition, we have shown our commitment to the Kingdom, with the addition of a further three properties in the last six weeks. We expect to announce further properties in Saudi Arabia within the next 12 months," said managing director of Le Meridien Middle East and West Asia, Sami Zoghbi.
Le Meridien Medinah is located on the outskirts of the Holy City of Medinah, and is just 10 minutes drive from the Holy Mosque, the destination of pilgrims from around the world. The hotel is owned by the Ministry of Finance and National Economy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and is well equipped to host conferences and weddings, as well as pilgrims and tourists.
Meanwhile, the group also announced the opening of Le Meridien Taif, in the mountain resort area of the Kingdom. The 111-room property comprises 78 single and double rooms, as well as six executive suites, two Royal Suites, 20 small villas and five large villas, providing a wide selection of tourist accommodation.
The two new properties form part of Le Meridien's rapid expansion programme in the Middle East and West Asia region, where it currently manages 25 hotels and will be opening additional properties in Kuwait and Kovalam, India, this autumn – and has a target of 40 city and resort hotels by the end of 2004. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
