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Fairmont launches three new developments in Saudi Arabia

DUBAI — Fairmont Hotels and Resorts has launched three iconic properties within Abraj Al Bayt — a complex of seven towers in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Mohammed Arkobi, Vice-President and General Manager of Makkah Clock Royal Tower, told Khaleej Times that the three hotels are the Raffles Hotel, Swiss Hotel and the Fairmont Hotel, which are being built as part of the seven towers in a ‘complex’ within Abraj Al Bayt. “Our iconic properties are our contribution to the vision of the Saudi government to meet the accommodation needs of the targeted 10 million religious visitors doing either Haj or Umrah to Makkah by 2015,” he said.

He said that the combined capacity of the three hotels is 3,000 rooms,serviced by 7,000 hospitality workers. “Raffles has 216 suites for high end clients while Swiss has 1,562 rooms and Fairmont will operate as a combination of both demonstrating a mix between tradition and modernity.” Kent Cooper, Vice-President, Regional Hotel Sales MEA, said that Fairmonth’s growth in the Middle East region is being driven by two key factors: the focus on our properties in the UAE, Egypt and now Saudi Arabia, and the increase that we are seeing in Gulf travellers and others around the region to our properties in the UAE, Europe and Asia.

He said that the most eagerlyanticipated development for Fairmont in 2010 is the opening of the Makkah Clock Royal Tower for which more than 2,600 staff members are currently being hired to service the hospitality complex in Saudi Arabia’s most sacred destination, with more than 850 rooms and serviced residences. “Fairmonth anticipates that the region’s growing meetings, incentives and conferences business will be a major draw for the Makkak Royal Tower property. Raki Philips, Area Director of Sales and Marketing – Middle East, said that Fairmont has invested in more hotels because the people in this region believe in destination and growth.

“Dubai and UAE government, for instance, have continue d to show its support to the hospitality industry by tourist-drawing initiatives like Fly Dubai, Burj Khalifa, Formula 1 and other projects,” he said. He said that in 2008-09 a decrease of 30 per cent was evident in the average hotel room rates. “Now, things are leveling off that hotels and other stake holders in the hospitality industryhave no choice but to provide luxury products.”

lily@khaleejtimes.com