Riyadh, 10 November 2008: Accor, one of the world’s largest hotel and services groups
currently represents a wide range of internationally acclaimed hotel brands that are well
recognized and suit varying budgets. With the fast paced development planned for the
future, the group promises to better match the increasing needs of the rapidly growing travel
and tourism industry across the world.
Accor in Middle East is ranked as the most aggressive hotel group in terms of development
in the Middle East region with 22 hotels (5,300 keys) currently in operation and 46 hotels
(11,809 keys) committed to open by 2012.
Accor is set to develop 100 new properties throughout the Middle East region in its mid-term
objective.
ACCOR IN KSA
In line with Accor’s overall development strategy to increase its presence across the Middle
East, Dr Abderahman Belgat, Managing Director, ACCOR Saudi Arabia & Sudan and
General Manager, Saudi French Co for Hotel Management confirms Accor’s intention to be
the leading hotel group in Saudi Arabia within the next four years.
NEWEST FLAGSHIP HOTEL IN KSA: Novotel Riyadh Al Anoud
After successful negotiations between Princess Al Anoud Foundation and Saudi French Co.
for Hotel Management (Accor KSA), a partnership was concluded by way of management
contract to operate this prestigious property under the brand Novotel. The Management
Agreement was signed in May 2004 at Sofitel Al Hamra in Jeddah between HRH. Prince
Saoud bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, Vice President of Princess Al Anoud Foundation and Accor
Group’s Founding Co. Chairman, Mr. Gérard Pélisson. During the design stage of the hotel
Accor has also engaged in providing technical assistance to comply with Novotel’s brand
exigency. Consequently Novotel Riyadh Al Anould is perfectly developed to uphold its brand
fundamental values of modernity, good design, simplicity and efficiency. The inauguration of
the hotel on November 10, 2008 is also significantly presided over by the same signatories
for the management contract and in the presence of Gilles Pélisson CEO Accor Group, Yann
Caillere, COO Accor Group & CEO Sofitel Worldwide, Jean-Luc Motot, Managing Director,
Accor M.E., Africa & Indian Ocean, Dr. Abderahman Belgat, Managing Director Accor KSA &
Sudan and GM-SFCHM, Michel Gicquel, Director Innovation & Design, Accor and with the
presence of H.E. Mr. Bertrand Besancenot the Ambassador for France.
Located on King Fahd Road, this new establishment with 166 rooms (118 Superior rooms,
26 deluxe rooms, 7 junior suites, 14 Executive suites and 1 Royal Suite) enjoys a strategic
location in the city. Among hotel features are: La Croissette restaurant, Novotel Coffee
Lounge, indoor swimming pool, fully equipped Fitness Centre, banquet and meeting rooms
with state of the art facilities.
The Princess Al Anoud project is of particular interest as the profit is earmarked for a
charitable foundation (Foundation Princess Al Anoud) for those in needs.
1/ ACCOR Hotels in KSA by end of 2008
By end of 2008 Accor will be operating 11 hotels with 3356 rooms under different hotel
brands Sofitel, Novotel & Mercure: Jeddah 2 hotels (331 rooms), Riyadh 3 hotels (371
rooms), Makkah 6 hotels (2493 rooms) and in Khamis Mushayt 1 hotel (161 rooms).
2/ In 2008 the Accor has signed 8 further capital projects of which 5 hotels are currently
under construction and are projected to open early next year:
Mercure Khamis Mushayt – operating since June 2008
Mercure Royal Riyadh – operating since Nov. 2008
Mercure Value Riyadh – operating since Nov. 2008
Novotel Dammam (160 keys)
Novotel Jeddah (160 keys)
Mercure Suleimania, Riyadh (100 keys)
Mercure Madinah Al Munawarrah (160 keys)
Mercure Al Khaleej, Madinah (150 keys)
Sofitel Al Khobar: Accor’s luxury brand ‘Sofitel’ in Al Khobar with 232 bay view
luxurious rooms is currently under completion for its interior designing and is scheduled
for opening in March / April 2009.
3/ SFCHM / Accor KSA is continuously expanding its presence in different parts of the
country, and is in negotiation for additional properties in Riyadh, Dammam, Taif, Khamis
Mushayt, Madinah, and Jeddah…
It is expected that the Saudi French Company for Hotel Management (a 100% Accor
subsidiary) will be managing over a total of 20 hotels with a total capacity of 5500 rooms by
2010, and will be employing 4500 Staff-members, half of them Saudis.
Sustainable Development Program in KSA
KSA, thanks to its religious dimension as the custodian of the two Holiest Mosques in Islam,
and to its economic dynamism, is considered as the spiritual and economic powerhouse in
the Arab-Muslim world in general, and more particularly in the Middle East.
With the continuous budget surplus during the past few years and bright economic
prospects, the investment potential in Saudi Arabia in line with the region is impressive.
Following the recent impetus by the Saudi Supreme Commission of Tourism headed by
H.R.H Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz to foster domestic tourism, Accor is
determined to contribute by fully participating in the development of the hospitality industry in
KSA.
Dr Abderahman Belgat emphasized on the potential of the Saudi tourism Industry: « it is
imperative to understand that tourism in Saudi Arabia is not limited to only religious tourism.
The Saudi Tourism Industry represents a huge potential with its multidimensional diversity:
cultural, ecological, archeological, desert attractions, resorts facilities which encompass the
needs, expectations and motivations of today’s traveler.
Saudi Arabia has many unexploited tourist resources such as the archeological site AI Jawf,
Rub AI Khali also known as the Empty Quarter, and the Nefoud Desert. Saudi Arabia boasts
a beautiful coast line with beaches at the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Saudi Arabia can
also offer urban tourism in Riyadh and Jeddah as well as mountain resorts and natural parks
in the Hejaz region. »
Saudization
In line with the Accor sustainable development programme, Saudization remains the first
priority for the Saudi French Company for Hotel Management, which manages properties for
Accor in Saudi Arabia. Accor Saudi Arabia is fully committed to play its role in helping and
developing young Saudis, graduates as well as others, to learn, understand and integrate
into the tourism industry.
Hotel Schools in Saudi Arabia
Accor, in cooperation with the Saudi Supreme Commission of Tourism and General
Organization for Technical Education & Vocational Training (GOTEVOT) worked together on
the establishment and management of several hotels schools in the Kingdom, in the main
strategic regions of the country.
The official signing ceremony of the MOU for the establishment of the Hotel Schools in
Riyadh, Taif and Hofuf took place on June 7th 2006 in Riyadh between Accor, the SCT and
GOTEVOT.
The construction of the first hotel school in Riyadh crystallized on 1st June 2008 by laying the
first foundation stone by HRH, Prince Sultan Bin Salman, Governor of Riyadh.
Dr. Belgat added that this project, which is important for the future prosperity of the Kingdom,
will be as a result of 3 years of discussions. This will guarantee the future of job opportunities
for numerous professions in the hotel and service industry.
* * *
Contact
Dr. Abderahman BELGAT
Managing Director – ACCOR KSA & Sudan
General Manager – Saudi French Co. for Hotel Management
Tel: +966 2 60.66.425 / Fax: +966 2 60.66.435
Accor, a major global group and the European leader in hotels, as well as the global leader in
services to corporate clients and public institutions, operates in nearly 100 countries with
150,000 employees. It offers to its clients over 40 years of expertise in two core business.
– Hotels, with the Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, all Seasons,
Etap Hotel, Formule 1 and Motel 6 brands, representing more than 4,000 hotels and nearly 500,000
rooms in 90 countries, as well as strategically related activities, such as Lenôtre.
– Services, with 30 million people in nearly 40 countries benefiting from Accor Services products in
employee and public benefits, rewards and loyalty, and expense management.
tiré du « caparabie.com«