Brussels, 2 February 2015

Carlson Rezidor, one of the largest and most dynamic hotel groups worldwide, further expands its portfolio in the Middle East: The group announces the mid-market Park Inn by Radisson Dubai Motor City; UAE (147 rooms, opening in Q1 2017) and the upper upscale Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Jeddah Gate; Saudi Arabia (452 rooms, opening in Q1 2018).

"The Middle East is an important development market for Rezidor - we want to further grow our core brands Park Inn by Radisson and Radisson Blu in the region together with experienced partners", said Wolfgang M. Neumann, President & CEO of Rezidor. "We are excited to cooperate with Sheikh Aidroos Alesayi and Al Tawfeeq for Development and Investment LLC for yet another flagship property in Jeddah and in Dubai. Both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are focus regions for us. The Gulf area sees rapid infrastructure development which will continue to accelerate the travel & tourism sector. In 2014, we signed more than 1,000 rooms in Saudi Arabia and over 500 rooms in the UAE. Dubai is one of the world's most attractive destinations, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a very promising emerging market'', added Neumann.

''We are pleased to enter into an agreement with Rezidor, a leading global hospitality company. With their strategic locations and iconic architecture, we are confident that the Radisson Blu Hotel, Jeddah Gate and the Park Inn by Radisson Dubai Motor City will fast become the first choice of travellers in their respective market segments'', said Sheikh Aidroos Alesayi, the General Manager of Altawfeeq for Development and Investment LLC as main Shareholder of the Park Inn by Radisson at Motor City in Dubai, and also the main Shareholder of Radisson Blu Hotel at Jeddah Gate in Jeddah.  

The new Park Inn by Radisson Dubai Motor City will feature 147 colourful and comfortable rooms, an all-day restaurant, a lobby lounge, meetings and events space, a gym, a spa and a swimming pool. It will be located in a development area of Dubai which will include motorsport facilities, residential units, business towers, a shopping centre and a racing-themed fun park. The hotel will enjoy privileged visibility adjacent to the shopping mall and the autodrome. With the Park Inn by Radisson Dubai Motor City, Rezidor now has 4 projects and around 800 rooms under development in Dubai.

Located at one of the region's most prestigious mixed-use development sites, the Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Jeddah Gate will feature 452 keys, including 302 rooms and 150 serviced apartments. The hotel and residence will offer an all-day restaurant, specialty restaurant, 2 lobby lounges, meetings and events area, a gym, a spa and 3 swimming pools. The building is located in the old airport area of Jeddah. The district is seeing various developments such as the shopping centre "Jeddah Gate" and the office complex "Andalus", and is set to become the new city centre of Jeddah. The Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Jeddah Gate is Rezidor's 8th project in Jeddah, and further strengthens the group's presence in Saudi Arabia which has been defined as a key focus country for Rezidor.

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About Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is one of the world's largest and most dynamic hotel groups and includes more than 1,350 hotels in operation and under development with180,000 rooms and a footprint spanning 105 countries and territories. The Carlson Rezidor portfolio includes a powerful set of global brands: Quorvus Collection, Radisson Blu®, Radisson®, Radisson Red, Park Plaza®, Park Inn® by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM. In most hotels, guests can benefit from Club CarlsonSM, one of the most rewarding loyalty programs.

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group employs 88,000 people worldwide and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., and Brussels, Belgium. For more information, visit www.rezidor.com.

The Park Inn by Radisson Dubai Motor City and the Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Jeddah Gate will be operated by The Rezidor Hotel Group.

© Press Release 2015