IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has signed a 15 year management agreement with Al Andalus Property for a Staybridge Suites hotel in Jeddah.

Staybridge Suites Al Andalus Mall is due to be the first Staybridge Suites property to open in Saudi Arabia.

The announcement follows closely after IHG announced plans for a Staybridge Suites property on Hira Street in Jeddah, demonstrating the increasing demand for extended stay properties in this important commercial hub. These two Jeddah properties mark the entrance of the Staybridge Suites brand into Saudi Arabia.

As both a popular leisure destination for Saudi nationals and important commercial hub, attracting the highest proportion of ex-pats in Saudi Arabia, Jeddah is a growing tourism market with a clear need for varied accommodation and hospitality offerings.

This latest deal is demonstrative of Staybridge Suites fast growth projection in the region as it answers significant demand from across KSA and the Middle East for internationally recognised extended stay hotel brands.

Construction is already underway on the 164-key Staybridge Suites Al Andalus Mall, which will be positioned in Al Andalus Square, currently under development on Kind Abdullah Street in the heart of the new city centre.  Once complete, the square will be a major landmark in this densely populated part of the city.

Pascal Gauvin, chief operating officer, Middle East, India & Africa, IHG said: “Jeddah is a booming domestic leisure destination in Saudi Arabia, and we expect its popularity to be compounded further by the redevelopment of the Corniche area and by major investments in the city’s airport. Demand for extended stay apartments is high and we see a strong future ahead for Staybridge Suites in Jeddah and Saudi Arabia.”

Hathal Alutaibi, director of Marketing & Business Development, Al Andalus Property, said: “The Al-Andalus Square is one of the most important developments in Jeddah. It is characterised by its outstanding location around the King Abdul Aziz field, stretching over 800 metres.”

“It’s also home to the Andalus Mall which is one of the largest and most successful commercial centres in Jeddah that includes a selection of world-renowned brands and an average number of one million visitors per month. As an internationally recognised extended stay property, Staybridge Suites will be an attractive prospect for many travellers to Jeddah who are looking for a spacious extended stay apartment style suite in a hotel that understands their individual needs.”

The Staybridge Suites brand launched in 1998 and the first Staybridge Suites in the Middle East opened in Cairo in 2008 and is expanding rapidly across the Middle East with seven properties in the pipeline. – TradeArabia News Service