Sunday, July 15, 2007


Jul. 15, 2007 (Al Bawaba delivered by Newstex) -- The Rezidor Hotel Group will bring its fresh and energetic mid-market brand Park Inn to the holy city of Makkah in Q1-2009: The Al Diyafa Park Inn Makkah will be in the Al Zahir area approximately three kilometres from the Haram, the mosque of the prophet. It adds 221 rooms to the Rezidor portfolio -- between 2007 and 2009, the group will open 20,000 new rooms in total. Further services of the Al Diyafa Park Inn Makkah will comprise a restaurant, a lobby lounge, a business centre, seven meeting rooms, two courtyards, a gym and 103 car parking spaces.

'Saudi Arabia is one of our major growth markets. Last year, over two million Hajj pilgrims visited the holy city during its peak period. Religious tourism will be our main focus but we are also targeting the growing corporate sector,' says Jean-Marc Busato, Area Vice President of The Rezidor Hotel Group

The first Middle East Park Inn will open in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia by the end of 2007. The 148-room Park Inn Al Khobar is next to the shopping and business districts and only an hour’s drive from Bahrain. A second property is scheduled to open in Olaya, Riyadh with 252 guestrooms and extensive meeting facilities.

'We have acquired a good understanding of the Saudi Arabian market and we see demand for efficient, value-for-money accommodation for the frequent traveller in the mid market segment, 'adds Busato.

Park Inn is focused on mastering the essentials of a great hotel experience. Currently Rezidor operates 84 Park Inn hotels with more than 14,800 rooms and is set for extensive growth in city centres, suburbs and main travel points across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

The Rezidor Hotel Group is one of the fastest growing hotel companies in the world. The group features a portfolio of 288 hotels in operation and under development with more than 59 800 rooms in 47 countries (as per March 31, 2007).

Rezidor operates the brands Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, Regent International Hotels, Park Inn and Country Inns & Suites in Europe, Middle East and Africa, along with the goldpoints plusSM loyalty programme for frequent hotel guests. Rezidor has signed a worldwide license agreement with the

Italian fashion house Missoni, in order to develop and operate a lifestyle hotel brand of the same name: Hotel Missoni. In November 2006, Rezidor was listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. With 41,7%, Carlson Companies is the main shareholder.

(c) 2007 Al Bawaba

Newstex ID: ALB-0001-18145959


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