May 09--DUBAI -- Swiss-Belhotel will open a 126-room hotel on King Fahd Street in Riyadh. The hotel, which is scheduled to open in September 2014, will have 26 floors of spacious accommodation, two restaurants, three meeting rooms plus banquet facilities and ample leisure space, including a swimming pool, health club and games room.

Abdallah Al-Jumaiah and Khaled Al-Jumaiah, president and vice president of the Al-Jumaiah Group; Gavin M. Faull, chairman and president, Swiss-Belhotel International; and Ghassan Aridi, CEO, Alpha Tours, signed the management agreement yesterday at Arabian Travel Market 2013. Also in attendance was Ahmed M. Al-Essa, assistant vice president for licensing, Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA).

"The building architecture is strikingly unique, offering breathtaking views of the capital from each of its four corners," remarked Philippe Kordahi, hotel development director for Al-Jumaiah Group.

According to a statement issued by Abdallah, the Al-Jumaiah Group is focusing on providing creative value in every one of its projects, and developing a collection of properties that includes four-star, luxury and boutique hotels. "The co-branding with Swiss-Belhotel International will power our development forward through a partnership where both sides understand the needs of the hospitality market and can deliver an exceptional product to our global customers," he remarked.

Saudi Arabia is expected to deliver 1,182 new internationally branded hotels into the market by 2015 according to a Colliers International October 2012 market report, with potential for an additional 34,882 mid-scale hotel guestrooms after 2015, located in both primary and second tier cities.

"Internationally branded economy hotels are a great match for the demographic profile of the Saudi market, and Swiss-Belhotel International's modern product is both culturally suitable for local families as well as appealing to international visitors with its competitive pricing model," said Faull.

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(c)2013 the Arab News (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)

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