LE MERIDIEN SIGNS CONTRACT FOR NEW HOTEL IN MADINAH, SAUDI ARABIA

Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts has announced the signing of a contract for a new hotel in the city of Madinah Al Monawarah, Saudi Arabia, further strengthening its presence in this vital market.

The new hotel, which is set to open in early September 2001, brings the total number of hotels operated by the international chain in Saudi Arabia to three – including Le Jeddah Meridien and Le Gulf Meridien Al Khobar – while a fourth, Le Majd Meridien, Makkah, has a scheduled opening in 2002.

At the signing ceremony, Michel Noblet Managing Director Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts, Middle East & West Asia, said: “This property in Madinah will be a landmark for our portfolio due to its location and, especially, the destination, which is revered by Moslems the world over.

“In addition, with a new hotel coming up in Makkah, we have achieved our strategic goal of a presence in the key cities of Jeddah, Madinah and Makkah, all of which are of high importance for Umra, Haj pilgrims and visiting Moslems.

“The hotel in Madinah provides a unique alliance of Islamic tradition and contemporary charm, giving it a distinctive personality that will be admired by all - facilities available in the hotel make it an ideal place for those traveling for religious purposes as well as those clients visiting this distinguished city on business.”

Le Meridien Madinah has 204 rooms and luxurious suites, all furnished to the highest international standards, and includes an excellent International Restaurant offering a variety of superb cuisine plus a unique specialty restaurant.

Among the other facilities available at the luxury hotel is the exclusive Commercial Gallery with 47 shops – while, specifically for the business traveller, the property features two meeting rooms fitted with state of the art communications and audio visual systems and a fully fledged Business Centre with secretarial services, available exclusively for the use of in-house guests.

In addition to new hotels under development, Le Meridien currently operates 21 properties in the Middle East and West Asia, with a total capacity of 5,900 rooms. In the Middle East, travellers have a choice of properties including Le Royal Meridien Bahrain, Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa, Le Gulf Meridien Al Khobar and Le Meridien Commodore Beirut.

In India, properties include Le Royal Meridien Chennai, Le Meridien Bangalore and Le Royal Meridien Mumbai, plus a number of new hotels under development.