Marriott Signs Two Hotels in Saudi Arabia

Marriott is to open its first Residence Inn by Marriott property for extended stay travelers in the Middle East with an 83-unit hotel in the Saudi Arabian province of Jizan on the Red Sea in 2012.

It will be part of a mixed-use development that will also include a new 129-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel that, when opened, will be the fourth Courtyard property in the Middle East, and a 58,000-square meter shopping mall.

Marriott will manage both hotels under a long-term agreement recently concluded with Abdulrahman Saad Al-Rashid & Sons Co. Ltd.

Both properties are currently under construction in two adjacent towers separated by a shared swimming pool in the northern part of Jizan City close to the municipality and the new Jizan University.

“We’re thrilled by the continued expansion of our lodging portfolio in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to participate in the economic development of Jizan,” said Ed Fuller, president & managing director of international lodging for Marriott. “Tourism in the Kingdom has strong growth potential with an average increase of 6.5% year-over-year projected through 2014. We’re confident that both these hotels will be successful from day one because of the power of their brand names, the value and comfort they both offer, their integration with a modern shopping mall and Jizan’s easy accessibility to the renowned offshore Farasan Island archipelago which is recognized for its spectacular coral reefs and abundant underwater life.”

The Residence Inn by Marriott Jizan will offer 83 studios and one and two-bedroom suites with each studio unit connecting with a one or two bedroom apartment. Designed for stays of five nights or more, each suite will include a fully equipped kitchen and separate living area and flat screen TV. Rates will vary depending on length of stay.

A special feature will be the Residence Inn lobby that will offer a club-like environment and will include a self-service lounge/coffee shop, a library and a small meeting room. A “grab and go” kiosk/market offering snacks, basic food items, newspapers, magazines and various sundries will be located adjacent to the front desk. The hotel will also host a complimentary weekly social hour.

Recreational amenities will include separate fitness rooms and lockers for men and women. Guests will share an outdoor pool area with those staying at the adjacent Courtyard by Marriott hotel. Other services will include the ability to print documents from apartment to business center, baggage and package delivery services and on-site parking.

The Courtyard by Marriott Jizan will offer king-bedded guest rooms and suites interconnected with double-bedded rooms to accommodate families during school holidays. Guest rooms will feature high speed internet access, flat screen TV and in-room safes.

For dining and entertainment, the hotel will have a casual restaurant serving three meals daily, a lobby lounge and a juice bar on the pool deck.

Recreational amenities will include a shared fitness room with separate lockers, sauna and steam room for male and female guests. The outdoor swimming pool will be shared with guests of the Residence Inn. Other amenities will include 24-hour room service with limited menu, an in-room mini-bar, a “grab and go” kiosk/market in the lobby.

Marriott International currently manages three hotels in Saudi Arabia: the 389-room Riyadh Marriott, the 210-room Jeddah Marriott and the 150-room Medina Marriott. In addition, Marriott has signed management contracts for the following hotels which are also under construction:

•238-room Courtyard by Marriott in Riyadh’s central business district
•288-room Courtyard by Marriott located in Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter
•119-unit Marriott Executive Apartments property adjacent to the currently operating Riyadh Marriott.

See other recent news regarding: Airlines, Airports, Awards, Flights, Codeshare, Lounges, First Class, Business Class, MICE, GDS, Rewards, Miles, Hotels, Apartments, Promotions, Spas, Yoga, Retreat, New Hotels, Traffic, Visitor Arrivals, Cruises, Interviews, Free Deals, Videos, Marriott, Saudi Arabia, Residence Inn, Courtyard by Marriott