IHG has opened the Voco Riyadh, the brand's first property in Saudi Arabia’s capital city, in partnership with Saudi-based developer Wasata Al Wosta Real Estate Co. The hotel is a conversion of the former Mövenpick Hotel Riyadh, and underwent "major redesigning" before the rebranding.
The hotel has 438 rooms and suites, a 400-space underground parking lot, several restaurants (serving Indian, Italian, Lebanese and other international dishes), a Cabana Pool Bar and the Rotunda Lounge, 22 meeting rooms and a ballroom that accommodate more than 1,200 event attendees.
In a statement, Pascal Gauvin, managing director of India, Middle East & Africa for IHG, called Saudi Arabia "an important and growing market for us," and said the company was committed to strengthening its presence in the country "by working in partnership with Wasata Al Wosta Real Estate Co."
The flagship property is 30 minutes from the King Khaled International Airport and close to the city’s key commercial areas, business zones and landmarks including Kingdom Tower and the Embassy District.
IHG currently operates 33 hotels across four brands in Saudi Arabia with a further 20 in the pipeline due to open within the next three to five years as of the end of Q3. Last month, the company signed an agreement with Nouh Mohamad Nouh and Partners Ltd. for the Voco Jeddah Gate, the third Voco signing for Saudi Arabia in nine months.