THE Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, is committed to an ambitious expansion in the Middle East with its first new hotel set to open in Saudi Arabia.
The 493-room Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh sits next to the King Abdul Aziz Conference Centre, one of the largest in the region and host to international summits and conferences.
“Regardless of the economy, Ritz-Carlton is committed to growth in the region in the major cities and then moving to secondary cities. The first to open doors this year will be the Ritz-Carlton Riyadh followed by Abu Dhabi in the last quarter of 2011,” Bob Kharazmi, global officer, worldwide operations for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, told TTN.
The Riyadh property joins eight other Ritz-Carlton hotels and resorts currently operating or under development in the Middle East including Bahrain, Dubai, Sharm El Sheikh, Doha, Sharq Village & Spa, Dubai International Financial Centre, Abu Dhabi and Nile Cairo (opening in late 2011 and 2013 respectively).
Plans for new hotels in Muscat and Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi are also under negotiation while 2014 will see two new properties opening doors in Morocco; one in Rabat and another in Tamuda Bay followed by a second location in Cairo at Palm Hills, by 2015.
“We are aiming to double our presence in the region by 2013, while across Asia and the Middle East, we are aiming to be the leading luxury hospitality and lifestyle brand by 2016,” added Kharazmi.
The company’s move into Saudi Arabia with the Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh will mark a major bid to tap into the kingdom’s tourism market. A key highlight of the property will be the 5,800 sq m of conference space, including two ballrooms in separate wings, sized 1,970 sq m each. Completing the conference area are two restaurants which cater exclusively for invited delegates, journalists and accompanying security personnel.
Dining venues include a signature restaurant featuring Middle Eastern favourites, an international buffet outlet, a lobby lounge serving traditional afternoon tea and a piano lounge. Other facilities include an indoor heated pool, a full-service health club and spa, tennis courts and a 1,000-sq-m, six-lane indoor bowling alley.
Kharazmi adds: “It is an incredible property and gives us an incredible entry into the hot market that Saudi Arabia is today. We love that the market is competitive since it adds to the destination. It shows that the destination is mature and important.
“Just like Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi too has seen tremendous growth over the years and a large number of new hotel operators have opened doors. How we distinguish ourselves through our ladies and gentlemen and the Ritz-Carlton legendary service is what sets us apart. At Ritz-Carlton, we are committed to our customer and strive to put the needs and expectations of our guests in the forefront of everything else. It is a privilege to be in both these markets today.”
Kharazmi also hopes soon to be able to announce more hotels to the company’s portfolio in Saudi Arabia. “Jeddah is another city we would like to be in,” he said.
Beyond the Middle East, growth plans remain strong in the Asian market too. The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong is the newest addition to the brand’s global portfolio in Asia, a property that also holds the record as the world’s highest hotel. “We currently have 5,500 rooms with further plans to add 10 new hotels in the region. A majority of them will be in Greater China and India, taking our portfolio of hotels from 75 to 114 globally by 2013,” said Kharazmi.
In these markets, the company hopes to announce plans in secondary cities including Haikou, Guangzhou or Bangalore and Jaipur. “These are new destinations our guests travel too and so it is important that we have a presence there,” he added.