Accor Middle East, one of the leading hotel operators in the region, has signed a franchise management contract with Al Hokair Group for Tourism and Development, one of the largest hotel owners and operators in Saudi Arabia and in the Middle East, to develop the first Suite Novotel hotel in Riyadh, Accor's upper midscale brand, in the presence of Accor Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Denis Hennequin and Mr. Sami bin Abdul Mohsen Al Hokair, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Al Hokair Group.
It is the first franchise agreement between Accor and Al Hokair Group and their second project after the opening of Novotel Dammam Business Park under management agreement in 2011. The two companies are looking at expanding their partnership, and will cooperate for additional Suite Novotel projects in the Kingdom.
Suite Novotel Riyadh Olaya will be strategically located at Olaya Street, one of the city's main arteries, right in the middle of the central business district of the city. The new hotel will be in close proximity to various offices, dining and entertainment areas and is positioned to attract a mix of corporate and leisure guests.
Christophe Landais, Managing Director Accor Middle East, said: "We are delighted to join forces again with our partner Al Hokair Group in this exciting venture. We share a common vision to grow tourism in the Kingdom and to create an off-beat, avant-garde spirit that invites guests to experience a new form of hotel living in Saudi Arabia through our Suite Novotel brand."
Mr. Sami Al Hokair added: "We are glad to continue our business relationship with Accor, the world's leading hotel operator and market leader in Europe. As a trusted and globally recognised partner, we are confident that together we can make Suite Novotel, a new 'lifestyle city concept', the number one choice for modern guests seeking to experience something different."
Suite Novotel Riyadh Olaya is due to open at the beginning of 2013. It will offer 115 well-appointed suites, several food outlets, banqueting facilities, three meeting rooms, and leisure and recreational facilities including a swimming pool and a fitness and wellness centre.
The Suite Novotel brand targets medium-stay clientele and offers only suites, which are fully flexible so that the guest can arrange the space to suit his or her needs for sleep, relaxation or work. For Suite Novotel's frequent traveller clientele, round-the-clock services promise more freedom and autonomy.
Suite Novotel's property portfolio is expanding. At present the brand has 29 locations in seven countries: France, Germany, Austria, Luxemburg, Spain, Morocco and the UAE. Suite Novotel Riyadh Olaya grows Accor's regional Suite Novotel network which includes the 180-room Suite Novotel Dubai Mall of the Emirates. It will join the existing Novotel hotels in KSA, Novotel Riyadh Al Anoud and Novotel Dammam Business Park, which have already positioned the brand as a benchmark in the Saudi hotel market.
Accor Middle East's current regional portfolio of 59 hotels representing 14,158 rooms includes 12 operational hotels in the Kingdom. Out of the 22 new hotels under development, seven will open in KSA: ibis Riyadh Olaya Street (December 2012), ibis Yanbu (early 2013), ibis Jeddah Malik Road (2014), Adagio Jeddah Malik Road (2014), Sofitel Riyadh (2015), Novotel Jizan (2015) and ibis Al Khobar (2015).
Accor ME
Accor ME is one of the fastest growing hospitality groups in the Middle East. Currently, the Group's regional portfolio includes a total of 59 operational hotels representing 14,027 rooms in ten countries. Among the existing global brands ranging from Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure and ibis, new brands such as Pullman and Adagio are emerging as strong players in the region.
With over 25 years of regional experience, Accor ME is the first to establish a training academy. Dubbed as Tamheed - Accor Academie Middle East, the training facility is dedicated to educate and prepare staff at all levels and ensure optimal career development.
Accor, the world's leading hotel operator and market leader in Europe, is present in 92 countries with nearly 3,500 hotels and 440,000 rooms. Accor's broad portfolio of hotel brands - Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure, Adagio, ibis, ibis Styles, ibis budget and hotelF1 - provide an extensive offer from luxury to budget. With more than 160,000 employees in Accor brand hotels worldwide, the Group offers its clients and partners 45 years of know-how and expertise.
Suite Novotel
Suite Novotel, an Accor upper midscale brand, operates 29 hotels in eight countries mainly in city centers.
Suite Novotel nurtures an off-beat, avant-garde spirit that invites guests to experience a new way of hotel living. Targeting a medium-stay clientele, Suite Novotel offers 30m² suites which are fully flexible so the guest can arrange the space to suit his or her needs (sleep, relaxation, work). For Suite Noodle's frequent traveller clientele, round-the-clock services promise more freedom and autonomy for a truly pleasurable stay.
Al Hokair Group
Al Hokair Group, leader in Hospitality and Entertainment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been in the business for over four decades. Today, the Group has more than 6,000 employees, with a portfolio of 31 internationally branded hotels predominantly in KSA, 10 restaurants, 50 outdoor/ indoor amusement and water parks, commercial centers, plastic and film manufacturing companies, major stake at Saudi Arabian Airlines Catering and has established the first hospitality institute in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Press Contacts:
Amanda Tomlinson/Action UAE
Amanda.t@actionprgroup.com
Tel. +971 4 3902980
Ferial Kurimbux/Accor ME
ferial.KURIMBUX@accor.com
Tel. +971 4 395 15 13
© Press Release 2012
