The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) signed a lease and operation agreement Tuesday of a new airport hotel with Ascott International Company Ltd. at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah. The contract was signed on behalf of GACA by Abdulrahman Almelhem, Director of Business Development and Properties and on behalf of the agent of Ascott in the Kingdom by Issam Altayar. The new hotel space which is located on the second floor of the new Executive Office building at south terminal and occupy a space of 4500 meters, it will provide a variety of rooms and suites totaling 110 in number. The hotel has a gym, a meeting rooms and restaurants. The hotel is to be categorized between five, or four stars hotel and it's expected to be opened in the month of Dhu Alhijja of this year. Almelhem said the signing of the contract comes hand in hand with the Kingdom Vision 2030 and within the framework of the ambitious GACA plan that puts passenger services at the forefront of its priorities. This plan aims to improve and upgrade airport services in order to achieve a quantum leap and make for an outstanding services provided to the traveling public. At the same token, it will meet the ambitions and aspirations of our wise leadership. He went on to say that GACA and based on its desire to nationalize the workforce has put a clause in the contract that gives priority to the employment of Saudi in the hotel, as to provide an excellent career opportunities for the youth of this country. He pointed out that in addition to the financial returns that GACA will achieve, the actual existence of a global brand name such as Ascott Hotel at the airport is an added value which reflects on GACA move toward attracting the best international companies to serve the travelling public. Asscot Company Ltd. is one of the largest owners and operators of Hotel Apartments around the world and a winner of several awards in the hospitality field and has many hotel units in various cities around the Kingdom.
