Tour includes four KHC-managed hotels: Fairmont, Raffles, Swissôtel & Mövenpick
RIYADH: Kingdom Holding Chairman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal visited and toured the Makkah Clock Royal Tower, also a Fairmont Hotel.
During his visit, the prince also toured the Raffles Makkah Palace, Swissôtel Makkah (currently under construction), Mövenpick Hotel & Residence Hajar Tower Makkah.
KHC has significant interests in the four hotel management companies.
Senior management from the hotels received the prince during his visit, including Mohammed Arkobi, vice president and general manager of Fairmont Makkah; Nasr Wajih Al-Saudi, general manager of Raffles Makkah Palace; Omar Boujlid, general manager of Mövenpick Hotel & Residence Hajar Tower Makkah; and Adnan Yunsil, general manager of Swissôtel Makkah that is scheduled to open next year.
The Makkah Clock Royal Tower is the most prestigious hotel in the Middle East. The extensive project, called Abraj Al-Bait, features a five-star Fairmont hotel with over 1,000 guestrooms. The complex also includes a selection of residential offerings as well as retail space, restaurants and extensive convention facilities.
The hotel is the focal point of the iconic Abraj Al Bait Complex, which is part of the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project, whose mandate it is to upgrade the precincts of the Two Holy Mosques.
The complex includes seven towers with a total floor space of 15.6 million square feet and is adjacent to the Grand Mosque. The property joins Fairmont's worldwide collection of iconic luxury hotels and is an addition to the company's Middle East and Africa portfolio.
The hotel, a 76-story tower at 577 meters high, will be among the world's tallest and its unique and distinctive features will ensure a landmark presence.
Its features include a 40-meter clock, visible from 17 kilometers away and 40 times larger than Big Ben in London.
The Royal Clock will announce daily prayers to the Muslim world, while the Lunar Observation Center and Islamic Museum will serve to protect the heritage of future generations.
Housing guestrooms and suites, the hotel features Fairmont Gold, the company's exclusive "hotel within a hotel" and numerous dining outlets.
Elegantly designed and offering unparalleled service, the hotel welcomes pilgrims and guests with a variety of leisure and business facilities, including unrivalled conference and banquet facilities that will accommodate over 1,500 attendees.
© Arab News 2010
