Hilton announces DoubleTree property in Riyadh

Hilton Worldwide announced its third DoubleTree property in Riyadh as part of its Middle East expansion plan.

According to Rudi Jagersbacher, president of Hilton Worldwide, Middle East and Africa, the Hilton group will have one of the strongest hotel portfolios in Saudi Arabia once all 20 hotels open within the next four years.

“As the fastest growing international hospitality company in KSA, I am delighted to see the strident and determined pace of progress we are making in such a key Middle East market,” he said.

The hotel will be co-owned by Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi & Sons. The owner, Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi, said, “Riyadh has traditionally been a strong corporate destination with business travel typically accounting for the biggest share of the incoming visitor market. However, as leisure travel to the capital continues to grow, we will need hotels capable of attracting both sectors and I am delighted that our alliance with Hilton Worldwide will develop a property with the right balance of quality facilities and high service standards designed to appeal to leisure and business travellers.”

Hotel amenities will include a business centre, two boardrooms and meeting rooms, a function room, and leisure facilities such as a health club, outdoor swimming pool and specialty dining options.

According to John Greenleaf, global head, DoubleTree by Hilton, the group’s growth in the region can be attributed to the fact that “investors and hotel owners can see the tangible benefits of partnering with an internationally recognised brand.”

The 309-room property is scheduled to open mid-2015.