If you travel in luxury, then they probably hosted you. Kingdom Hotel Investments (KHI) is an international hotel and resort investment and development company operating with a portfolio of luxury hotels, located primarily in emerging markets.

KHI has strategic partnerships with the Four Seasons Hotels and ResortsFour Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Movenpick Hotels and ResortsMovenpick Hotels and Resorts, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, and Raffles Hotels and Resorts whereby they undertake the management of KHI's hotels.

KHI, in partnership with Colony Capital Acquisitions, also acquired the Canadian-based Fairmont Hotels and Resorts at a total cost of USD5.5 billion in January 2006 and merged the hotel chain with the Singapore-based Raffles hotels.

KHI was established by Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (known as Al Waleed), who was listed by Forbes magazine as the richest businessman in the Arab region in 2006 and 2007. KHI was established to consolidate the hospitality assets of Kingdom Holding CompanyKingdom Holding Company, which is one of the Middle East's largest companies also founded by Al Waleed.

Founded originally in Dubai in 2000 as Middle East Hotels Company with a capital of USD211 million, it underwent a corporate restructuring and changed its name to Kingdom Hotel Investment Group in 2002. In 2004, it changed its name to Kingdom Hotel Investments and increased its authorized share capital to USD1 billion in 2005. KHI listed its shares on the Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX)Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX) and London Stock Exchange in March 2006 and raised USD380 million for 25% of its shares.

In 2006, KHI signed agreements and contracts with a total value (enterprise and project cost) of USD1.4 billion and increased the total number of rooms in its portfolio to 4,060 rooms. KHI owns its subsidiaries either directly or through a number of funds registered in the Cayman Islands. In 2006, KHI increased its net profit by 343.3% over 2005 to reach USD44 million. It also increased its total assets by 86% to reach USD1.478 billion.

In 2007, KHI continued to extend and diversify its investments and acquisitions to cover the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe. KHI started the year with ownership interests in 33 properties in 16 countries including 19 operational hotels and resorts with 14 hotels and resorts under construction or undergoing expansion.