Saudi Arabia, and the Middle East as a whole, may be known for its opulent luxury hotels, but it's getting the select-service bug, too.
This week, Dur Hospitality announced plans to develop Courtyard by Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott properties in the Arabian city of Yanbu, following the signing of a franchise agreement with Marriott International.
The $23.1-million, 82,000-square-foot project will be Marriott International’s first franchise agreement in the kingdom. Dur had previously proposed supplying architecture and design services, but Hening Larsen Architect won the bid. The completed hotel will include a mixed-use structure of 150 rooms and serviced apartments.
Last week, Marriott announced that 21 new hotels with approximately 4,200 rooms are slated to open by 2025 in Saudi Arabia. "Saudi Arabia is one of our key markets both for existing hotels as well as a very strong pipeline of more properties to come in more parts of the kingdom over the next five years," Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director, Middle East & Africa, for Marriott International, said. "We hope that under this agreement we will work on other cities and sites around the kingdom."
Courtyard by Marriott made its Saudi debut just three years ago when the Courtyard Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter (pictured) opened.
Sources: Trade Arabia, Saudi Gazette