17. Dr. Badr AlBadr, Chief Executive Officer, Dur Hospitality
The eloquent CEO of Dur Hospitality rises up the charts thanks to his visionary growth strategy
One of the hottest GCC markets for hotel development right now is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Dr Badr AlBadr is making his presence known — in a big way. His goal is to triple revenue by 2023 to SAR 1.5 billion (US $0.4bn) by developing 14 new hotels and five new residential compounds.
Last year, the company signed a master franchise agreement with IHG for Holiday Inn-branded properties in the Kingdom. This year at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, it signed an MFA with Marriott International to develop the first Courtyard by Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott Properties in Yanbu on a 7,467m2 land with an investment of SAR 87 million ($23.2mn). This 150-room project will be Marriott International’s first franchise in the Kingdom.
Under his leadership, Dur Hospitality has successfully extended its partnership with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) for 20 additional years, through renewing the operating agreement of King Khaled Airport Hotel in Riyadh. It also acquired a 10,135m2 plot in Al-Hofuf city in the Al-Ahsa province for SAR 31.5 million ($8.4mn). The land will be dedicated for the development of a new four-star hotel with 120 rooms.
Finally, Dur Hospitality has also purchased a 3,850m2 plot in Jeddah in order to develop a 250-room hotel and serviced apartments.
But it’s not just development and investment on Dr AlBadr’s radar. Through the company’s work, he has increased the Saudi employment percentage from 21% to 33% from 2013 to 2015.
Dur Hospitality has also developed the first Gold LEED-certified hotel in Saudi Arabia: the Marriott Hotel & Marriott Hotel Suites at Riyadh Diplomatic Quarters. Speaking to Hotelier, he says: “We are working towards transforming all Dur hotels to green buildings.”
Dr AlBadr continues: “Dur Hospitality is working to be a positive contributor to the community through adopting and supporting several local CSR initiatives and programmes. We have two targets: saving energy and food and recycling, as well as supporting non-profit organisations.”
Sustained growth and Kingdom-wide expansion, he says, is his vision for the company. He seems to be doing just that.
By the numbers
4.5 Number of years in role
4.5 Number of years with company
11 Number of Middle East operating hotels
9 (6 new and 3 expansions) Number of Middle East pipeline hotels
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