REPRESENTATIVES of the King Abdullah International Foundation and Sofitel, the luxury brand of French Hotel Group Accor, gathered in Jeddah to commemorate the signing of a management contract of a Sofitel hotel in Riyadh, in the presence of Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Foundation, and Denis Hennequin, Accor Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Set in an ideal location in a fast-growing area of the capital city, in close proximity of many key business drivers such as the central business district on King Fahad Road, the King Saud University and the Diplomatic Quarter, the hotel will be the perfect venue for high-end domestic and international business travelers, government officials and diplomats. The 5-star luxury hotel will be the anchor point of a major complex, developed over an area of approximately 100,000 square meters. This mixed-use development will also include the headquarters of the Foundation, a mosque and a convention center. The Sofitel Riyadh, which is currently under construction, is expected to open by the end of 2015. Its guests will enjoy a full range of facilities that include approximately 400 rooms & suites, six food and beverage outlets, various meeting facilities, a swimming pool, a spa and additional recreational amenities. The Foundation's hotel will be a notable architectural landmark on the Riyadh landscape. The hotel and the rest of the complex will provide a lasting legacy to the noble vision and initiatives of King Abdullah to bring about lasting and positive impact to humanity as a whole. “We believe that the combination of the Sofitel brand with its contemporary and distinguished style will be a perfect match with the iconic and modern architectural design of the Foundation's hotel building. In years to come, we are sure that the Foundation will be acknowledged as an important venue. — SG
