UAE’s Rotana pushes ahead with Saudi expansion

Abu Dhabi-based hotel management firm Rotana is set to launch five new properties in Saudi Arabia by 2017, as it aims to capitalize on growing demand for religious tourism and corporate events, the company’s chief operating officer Guy Hutchinson told Argaam.

Riyadh, Jeddah, and Makkah are the main locations where Rotana is planning to expand. The Saudi capital, in particular, will become a strong focus for the company where it specifically aims to target corporate clients and meetings segment.

“The market dynamic of Saudi Arabia is very strong. If you take Jeddah and Riyadh, they are among the top 15 markets [for hotel industry] in the world,” Hutchinson said.

The hotel operator opened Rosh Rayhaan in Riyadh earlier this week, while it has already built up a presence in the kingdom’s religious tourism industry.

Of the five hotels planned for Saudi Arabia, three will fall under Rotana’s mid-market brand Centro.

“We are across four to five brands. We work really depending on what opportunity fits which market, and sometimes in a particular market you have multiple opportunities,” he explained, adding that the company places a big emphasis on finding the right business partners before it decides on new properties.

The company’s plans for Saudi Arabia are part of its strategy to rapidly expand its footprint across the Middle East, by opening 19 hotels across the region by the end of next year.

Rotana has also extended its reach outside of the Gulf region last year, opening three new hotels in Turkey, while it also sees sub-Sahara Africa as another key growth market.

Write to Nadeshda Zareen at nadeshda.zareen@argaamplus.com