Rotana announces expansion plans in Saudi Arabia

Rotana, a leading hotel management company in the region, has laid out plans for aggressive expansion of its portfolio in the Kingdom.
Rotana has planned five hotels in major cities across the country to add more than 1,150 keys to its already strong portfolio, the company’s chief operating officer Guy Hutchinson said on the sidelines of the Rotana Hotels 2018 GCC Roadshow.
He said the aim is to contribute to the country’s efforts to achieve its goals outlined in the Saudi Vision 2030, and its initiatives aimed at promoting the domestic tourism sector, including the Red Sea coastline project.
With its rapidly growing economy, the Kingdom is one of the fastest growing markets for Rotana, which currently operates four hotels and 1,258 rooms in Riyadh, Jeddah and Makkah.
Rotana has planned to open four new hotels under its “Centro by Rotana” brand in Riyadh, Jeddah, Alkhobar and Madinah. Another hotel, Dana Rayhaan by Rotana, will open in Dammam. The company already has more than 500 keys at two operating hotels for budget-conscious travelers in Riyadh and Jeddah.
Hutchinson said: “Travel and tourism continued to be one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors in 2017, and the outlook for the industry in 2018 remains robust, given the anticipated increase in the number of travelers from developing and emerging countries and rising disposable income of people coupled with their yearning for unique experiences.
“Increasing airline competition that has brought down the cost of travel, and strong demand for business travel will further drive growth in the sector. Driven by recent reforms and the country’s endeavors to diversify its economy, the hospitality sector in the Kingdom is headed for a growth it has never seen. The initiatives such as the $500 billion Red Sea coastline project and plans to issue tourism visas will accelerate the country’s economic diversification to achieve less reliance on oil and transform it into a global tourism destination.
“We have diversified our portfolio to match the needs of travelers of all kinds, and with our strong market presence and unique offering, Rotana is well-positioned to capitalize on the booming growth of the sector in the Kingdom,” Hutchinson concluded.