Club InterContinental was created with the discerning traveller in mind, designed to retain local charm with the highest standards of modern facilities

Branching out from business travel
An expanding population, high levels of disposable income, new lifestyle trends and greater domestic tourism increase hotel demand

Increasing business opportunities as well as a rise in religious and domestic tourism have contributed to a rapidly growing tourism industry in Saudi Arabia. Now receiving over 11 million tourists per year, the kingdom is expecting to reach 34 million visitors by 2024.

With the economy opening up, Saudi is attracting a growing number of business travellers. New investment opportunities in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province, and the subsequent rise in foreign companies operating in these areas, have resulted in high demand in the hotel industry and a real need for new hotels, with four and five-star hotels reporting occupancy rates at near capacity throughout the year.
Makkah and Madinah are also experiencing a boom thanks to the annual Hajj and year-round Umrah pilgrims. Religious tourism is still by far the mainstay of the sector, and the number of annual visitors travelling to the kingdom for pilgrimages has shown significant growth in recent years. Forming the base for the industry’s 2024 projections, this trend is likely to only become more widespread in the near term.

Finally, Saudi Arabia’s growing population, along with high levels of disposable income and a government policy that encourages domestic tourism, have seen a number of new destinations opening up. In particular, verdant and cool mountain resorts such as Baha, Taif and Abha are drawing flocks of Saudis anxious to escape the heat during the summer.

With a number of international hotel chains operating in the country, and more on their way in, Saudi’s hotel industry offers its visitors the very best. The kingdom boasts some of the world’s best five-star hotels and even offers a few seven-star properties in Riyadh and Jeddah.

	Demand is high for the InterContinental Riyadh, set in 100 acres of mature gardens only five minutes from the business district

Desire a more privileged position
INTERCONTINENTAL RIYADH

Some of the best business deals are negotiated on the golf course rather than in the boardroom. This may be just one of the reasons that the InterContinental Riyadh was recently awarded the honour of Best Business Hotel by Middle East Business Traveller magazine for the sixth consecutive year.

In addition to being the only hotel to feature its own nine-hole fairways, the InterContinental Riyadh features spacious, state-of-the-art meeting and conference rooms, including two additional sprawling banquet halls located just a minute from the main lobby.

Round-the-clock in-room dining, laundry service and a 24-hour fitness club with a bowling alley and squash court mean that time-zone-hopping business travellers to the capital can get quality service all day. “We always keep the needs of the business travellers in mind and work towards consistently exceeding their expectations to make their stay memorable, enjoyable, and above all productive,” says general manager Nassir Al-Dossari.

Following the recent renovation of the hotel's plush Club InterContinental wing, complete with oversized guest rooms and unlimited high-speed internet access, the InterContinental Riyadh can provide visitors with a tasteful, luxurious version of a home office. “Our guests appreciate a fine balance between charm and high-tech amenities,” adds Mr Al-Dossari. “The very concept of our Club InterContinental was conceived with the discerning traveller in mind.”

In upgrading the city’s most desirable meeting place, a local design and consulting company was approached to provide the designs for the main entrance and lobby, taking into consideration the local culture while emphasizing the InterContinental Hotels Group’s InterContinental brand standards.

“Our renovation of the Club InterContinental wing was designed in a manner that retained and reflected the local appeal as well as that reflected the history of the hotel,” says Mr Al-Dossari.

“We are successfully capturing the cream of the conference market by providing a better package than our competitors, i.e. facilities coupled with accommodation,” says Mr Al-Dossari.

“Additionally, since our owning company is the ministry of finance, we are the preferred venue for most governmental and semi-governmental entities, both for accommodation as well as business meetings and conferences,” he adds. “We also have the largest car parking facilities around and we are the hotel favoured by most of the diplomatic segment in terms of our unmatched security arrangements.”

	Towering pillars in the spectacular lobby of the Coral International Al Khobar welcome guests to its refined luxury and exclusivity

Five-star haven for discerning travellers
CORAL INTERNATIONAL

The Coral International Al Khobar hotel is the newest member of the United Arab Emirates-based Coral hotel family. While this is the first Coral Group hotel in Saudi Arabia, the Coral brand currently has eight hotels and furnished flats in the ever-growing region, including eco-friendly and boutique-style facilities.

The Coral International Al Khobar hotel is located on one of the major roads in Al-Khobar, making it easy for travellers to navigate the bustling city.

A 300-room expansion is planned in the coming year to accommodate the hotel's business clientele, adding to the current 132 rooms, which feature two-bedroom suites.

Business travellers are welcome to use the built-in screens, microphones, state-of-the-art conference facilities and advanced multimedia provided by the hotel's two fully equipped meeting rooms.

With an indoor swimming pool, two restaurants and a ballroom with a capacity of 700 people, this hotel boasts a vibrant atmosphere when the regular workday is through.

The Coral Group plans to make its mark in Saudi Arabia, with more than 12 hotels slated for construction in the next five years in this expanding business oasis.