FRHI signs new properties in Saudi and Morocco

Morocco’s surge in hospitality is a sign of stability in the country, according to FRHI SVP development EMEA Francios Baudin.

FRHI hotels and resorts has announced the signing of two new hotels – one each in Saudi Arabia and Morocco.

Baudin told Hotelier Middle East exclusively at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC): “We have signed two hotels – Fairmonts, and there is one which is in Al Khobar, on the border of Bahrain. This will be an iconic property because it will define luxury in that area.”

The owner, with whom FRHI has signed with currently, owns 20 properties, and Baudin hopes to sign more hotels with the owner.

“They have operating hotels with other international groups, and we hope that this partnership will see many of our hotels opening in Saudi Arabia,” Baudin said.

He also revealed details of the other property: “The other property is a resort that we have signed in Taghazout in Morocco. Taghazout will have five hotels, one of which is already opened – Hyatt Place.

“We will come up with the [definitive] luxury hotel in this development, and it will have 150 keys with about 50 branded villas, which will be branded by Fairmont.” 

Discussing a recent surge in hospitality in Morocco, he stated: “Despite what has happened recently in North Africa and Europe, Morocco has shown a great level of stability, has continued to build its infrastructure during the downturn. The highways, industrial ports, railways – they have really pushed into building infrastructure when nobody really did anything."