5 upscale hotel deals in Saudi Arabian Knowledge Economic City

Marriott & Archipelago among select hotels to operate in Madinah
2024-12-04
/
/ New Delhi
/ Hotels
5 upscale hotel deals in Saudi Arabian Knowledge Economic City

Archipelago is the largest privately owned operator of hotels in Southeast Asia

The holy city of Madinah in Saudi Arabia is set to be home to numerous luxury hotels from around the world as part of the ambitious Knowledge Economic City under development in Madinah.
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The Knowledge Economic City (KEC), an ambitious real estate development project in the holy city of Madinah in Saudi Arabia has signed deals with five leading hospitality brands in the world as part of its growth strategy.

In a press statement, KEC says that it signed deals with leading global hospitality names like Marriott as well as brands like Archipelago, an Indonesian brand, at a ceremony in Madinah.

The statement adds that Archipelago has been named as one of five global hotel chains to be selected to brand and operate hotels and serviced residences in the upcoming Islamic World District (IWD) area of Knowledge Economic City (KEC), a 6.8 million sqm mixed-use project in the holy city of Madinah. As one of the leading Master Developers in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KEC is delivering over 18,000 hospitality rooms that will further strengthen Madinah’s importance in the travel industry by significantly improving its tourism offerings, capacity and the pilgrim experience, all key elements of Saudi Vision 2030.

The statement adds that Aston Hotel & Residences KEC will consist of 519 hotel rooms and 130 serviced apartments within the IWD area of KEC and will open in 2027. This district aims to maximise its proximity to Haramain railway station, which links Madinah to Makkah and Jeddah by high-speed train and provides integrated services for pilgrims and visitors from the multiple cultures of the Islamic world.

It will reflect these cultures in the facilities and services offered including hotels, shops, restaurants, entertainment outlets, medical clinics and other support services.

Archipelago is the largest privately owned operator of hotels in Southeast Asia, a key region for pilgrim travel and a region which is widely recognised as a high growth area for outbound tourism generally. Its Aston brand is the leading hotel brand in Indonesia with a history of over 27 years in that market.

Signing Between Archipelago and Knowledge Economic City in Madinah

“The importance of Indonesia as a tourism source market for Madinah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region cannot be overstated. With over 50 pc of Indonesia’s population under the age of 30, a growing middle class, consistent improvements in airlift and the rising influence of social media, Indonesia has the greatest capacity for outbound growth and pilgrim travel than any other Muslim nation. Madinah holds a special place in the heart of every Muslim and therefore its religious significance and history, ensures that the potential for heritage, medical, knowledge and religious tourism is unbound. We know that this announcement will create a lot of excitement in Indonesia’s travel sector and that there will be great anticipation amongst our millions of Indonesian members and customers to visit the Aston hotels in Madinah,” says Gerard Byrne, Managing Director, Archipelago.

“We are honoured and proud to be partnering with KEC on bringing Aston Hotels to IWD and to be making our debut in Madinah. KEC is a vital project in terms of diversifying Madinah’s economy and creating a destination that provides a truly holistic experience for travellers, while celebrating the heritage, culture and religious identity of the Holy City. We look forward to working with KEC on this pivotal project and supporting the ongoing transformation of the country’s tourism sector,” says John Flood, President & CEO, Archipelago.

Mohammad Al Mubarak

“We are excited to announce our strategic collaboration with Archipelago, marking a significant milestone for Knowledge Economic City (KEC). It is a testament to our shared values of excellence, innovation, and delivering extraordinary guest experiences. With the incredible and continuous support from Prince Salman bin Sultan, this relationship with Archipelago allows us to set new hospitality standards in Madinah and will contribute to the Kingdom’s development goals in line with Vision 2030,” says Amin Shaker, Chairman, KEC.

“It gives me great pleasure to share our collaboration with Archipelago, bringing new Aston branded hotels, Aston Hotel & Residences KEC, to the city. The introduction of these properties is a pivotal step forward in our mission to grow technology and knowledge-driven developments in Madinah and deliver unparalleled hospitality experiences to residents and visitors across all sectors. Anticipated projects will add over 1,200 rooms within the destination’s Islamic World District,’’ says Mohammad Al Mubarak, Chief Executive Officer, KEC.

Marriott to open three hotels in KEC

Marriott aims to have 10,000 rooms in Saudi Arabia by 2030

Another company that signed deals with KEC is luxury hospitality giant Marriott International which says it has signed an agreement with KEC to open three hotels within Madinah. It says that the anticipated openings will be part of the KEC master-development and feature over 1,200 rooms across three of the company’s brands,  Courtyard by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton and Residence Inn by Marriott.

“Under the leadership and guidance of Prince Salman bin Sultan, we remain committed to advancing the hospitality sector in Madinah by bringing the highest standards of accommodation, innovation and guest experiences to the Holy City. We are delighted to collaborate with Marriott International to set new hospitality benchmarks in Madinah and support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 framework,” says Shaker of KEC.

“We continue to see growth opportunities across the Holy Cities where there remains a strong demand for high-quality hotel accommodation. Knowledge Economic City is a pivotal project that will further help diversify Madinah’s economy and create a destination that provides a variety of experiences for travellers and celebrates the cultural and religious identity of the Holy City.  We look forward to working with KEC to enhance the hospitality landscape in Madinah and support the ongoing transformation of the country’s tourism sector,” says, Jerome Briet, Chief Development Officer, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International.

Jerome Briet

“Knowledge Economic City is committed to offer an unparalleled lifestyle and hospitality experience for residents and visitors alike, and this milestone agreement is a testament to the high standards of excellence we plan to bring to the master-development and Madinah as a destination.  Courtyard by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton and Residence Inn by Marriott each offer a unique travel experience, and we are excited to add these brands to our portfolio.   These hotels will play an important role in the accommodating the influx of travellers into the Holy City,’’ says Mubarak of KEC.

The statement by Marriott adds that the expected openings in Madinah are also a part of Marriott International’s commitment to the growth of the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia where the company’s current portfolio encompasses over 40 properties and more than 10,000 rooms across 13 of its brands.

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