Rotana, one of the leading hotel management companies in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe, has announced plan for a major expansion in Saudi Arabia.

Rotana’s expansion plans will contribute directly to the Kingdom’s hospitality sector by adding more than 4,100 new hotel rooms and suites, and creating more than 1,500 jobs for Saudi youth in various departments within its hotels, said a statement.

First in line is the upcoming opening of Rosh Rayhaan by Rotana Hotel in Riyadh during Q1 of 2014. Strategically located in Olaya Street and close to upscale shopping centres, the hotel will consist of 236 rooms and suites, complemented by state-of the-art guest facilities that include a health club, ballroom, meeting centres, and four restaurants offering a choice of Arabic and international cuisines, it said.

Rosh Rayhaan by Rotana will be Rotana’s second hotel in the Kingdom, having opened its first hotel in Makkah, Al Marwa Rayhaan by Rotana, which is located on the right side of Al-Bait Towers project.
Rotana will move into the relatively new mid-range and budget hotel sector with the opening of four hotels under the Centro Hotels by Rotana brand in Riyadh, Al-Khobar, Dammam and Jeddah.

“Centro Hotels by Rotana is a lifestyle brand and signals the start of a bold new genre of hospitality. Business travel and accommodation for the budget conscious executive is an increasingly important market in the region and the Centro Hotels by Rotana concept is specifically designed to cater to this rapidly expanding market,” said the statement.

Expressing his optimism about the future of tourism in the kingdom, Selim El Zyr, president and CEO of Rotana, said: "The Saudi hospitality sector continues to enjoy robust growth based on religious tourism, which currently constitutes 75 per cent of all passenger traffic in the kingdom; increasing domestic tourism; and an increasing number of business travellers as a result of the surge commercial and construction activities.

“It is in this prospering economic climate that we are confidently implementing our expansion plans with a commitment to giving Saudi youth the opportunity to play their part in the development of the national economy in general and the hospitality sector in particular by providing them with training and career development within a working environment that stimulates the culture of creativity, innovation and excellence.”   - TradeArabia News Service