ROTANA, one of the leading hotel management companies in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe, is getting ready to celebrate the opening of its first hotel in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – the Centro Shaheen Jeddah. Perfectly suited for business and leisure travelers, the Centro Shaheen features 252 modern, stylish, contemporary and affordable rooms and studios. Located on Madinah Road and just 20 minutes from King Abdulaziz International Airport, Centro Shaheen Jeddah is well situated to provide easy access to the city's business hubs as well as to Jeddah's booming north side. Surrounded by high-end shopping malls, the hotel is also conveniently close to the fashionable Tahlia Street and the traditional markets of Al Balad, the city's historical center. "We are not just opening a hotel," Area Vice President, Mohammad Haj Hassan explained. "We are bringing to Jeddah and Saudi Arabia a new concept, one that provides business and leisure travellers with style and comfort but at very affordable rates. This opening will be another example of Rotana's strategic plan to spread our brand and standards around the Kingdom and across the region." "It is very exciting to see Rotana entering such a prominent presence in this city that serves as the gateway to Makkah and Al Madinah, besides its status as a business and trade hub and as a time-out destination," said Haj Hassan. He added that although Saudi Arabia continues to boast the region's largest economy, its hospitality industry has lagged in reaching its potential. Today, however, the hospitality industry in Saudi Arabia is booming, fueled by the drive to diversify the nation's economy and a need to put trained and qualified young Saudis to work. Rotana is aggressively establishing properties around the Kingdom, with Centro Shaheen Jeddah the third – the first and second being Al Marwa Rayhaan by Rotana and Rosh Rayhaan by Rotana – of six hotels Rotana is opening in Saudi Arabia. Regionally, Centro Shaheen Jeddah is just one of 18 hotels Rotana will open before the end of 2017. Moreover, Haj Hassan said: "With the government encouraging private investment in the Kingdom's hospitality industry we feel that we are well-positioned not just to take excellent care of our guests but to provide employment opportunities for Saudis today, tomorrow and into the future. We have already introduced a program that provides local hires with the skills and understanding to offer world-class service. You can expect to see the fruits of this training front-and-center at the Centro Shaheen Jeddah." Hospitality is expected to be a major growth sector in the Saudi economy for the foreseeable future. A specialized report, recently issued regarding the hospitality industry in GCC countries, predicts the sector will achieve an annual growth rate of 9.5%, bringing the size of the industry to $35.9 billion by 2018, compared to its size of $22.8 billion in 2013. The occupancy rate is expected to reach between 68
