Boutique hotels need 'chance to shine' in KSA

The second day of the Vision Conference at The Hotel Show in Dubai saw a call for more boutique hotels in Saudi Arabia, to cater to the need for a more personalised service.

In the final panel session of the day, Al Mashreq Boutique Hotel general manager Samer Abou Aleiwi explained why the segment was experiencing growth.

“More and more guests and clients are more sophisticated in their needs. Especially for frequent travellers, they want a personalised service,” he said.

“The big players are there and we will always learn from them. They will always be leading the market. However, the boutique hotels will be in the smaller market segment and have the niche market.

“I still believe boutique haven’t had the right chance to shine in this part of the world. In Europe it’s all about boutique hotels, in the [United] States it’s all about boutique hotels.”

Another speaker on the panel, AlKamal International Interior Design & Contractors director Ismail AlKamal, detailed how major hotel brands were also looking to tailor their offerings in terms of designs.

“Our clients are not asking any more for standard designs,” he explained. “They are asking for more unique designs, they are asking to acquire materials from specific suppliers and they want a level of quality.

“They want to build the customer experience. A memorable experience for guests staying at the hotel.”

Asked about big investment opportunities in the hotel sector in Saudi Arabia, Aleiwi highlighted the mid-market and budget segments.

“Investors should really look at budget hotels – three star and four stars – especially in secondary cities such as Jizan. Definitely I will see that budget hotels have a chance. The money is still there on the table.”