FOUR Points by Sheraton, a part of Marriott International, on Wednesday announced the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Makkah Al Naseem in Saudi Arabia – the brand’s largest property globally. Adding over 1,100 rooms to the Holy City, the hotel is conveniently situated in the Al Naseem district and is in close proximity to the center of Makkah and the holy Masjid Al-Haram - providing an ideal location for guests visiting on pilgrimage or business.

“The trajectory for religious tourism into Saudi Arabia continues to grow, resulting in a strong demand for hotels in the Holy Cities,” said Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “We are delighted to open our fifth property in the Holy City of Makkah. Four Points by Sheraton Makkah Al Naseem offers pilgrims the brand’s excellent service and a comfortable hospitality experience in the Holy City.”

He added: “With Saudi Vision 2030, there is a renewed focus on tourism and we remain committed to supporting the growth of the sector across the Kingdom. With this opening, we now operate 24 hotels in the country and are on track to double our presence in the Kingdom in the next five years.”

Four Points by Sheraton Makkah Al Naseem features 1,136 spacious and modern guest rooms including 121 suites, offering unmatched views of the holy city of Makkah. Reflecting the brand’s promise to provide what matters most to today’s independent travelers, the hotel offers the brand’s defining touches including complimentary bottled water in all rooms, fast and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and an energizing breakfast with fresh coffee that helps guests start the day right.

The hol includes four dining concepts, Al Sharq– an all-day-dining venue which also offers traditional Arabic cuisine, Asia House– serving up a variety of Asian dishes and two Lobby Cafés offering fresh and delicious take away food and beverages. The hotel also boasts over 950 sqm of event space, including a Grand Ballroom and three flexible meeting rooms - all equipped with state-of-the-art technology, natural daylight and complimentary WiFi. A dedicated retail area and supermarket are also available on site.

Other facilities at the hotel include dedicated fitness centers for men and women, a children’s play area and a complimentary shuttle to and from the Holy Mosque, Masjid al-Haram.

Loai El Sakkary, General Manager of the Four Points by Sheraton Makkah Al Naseem, said: “We are excited to open doors to the largest Four Points by Sheraton in the world and look forward to serving our guests with the warm and genuine service the Four Points brand is known for. With its comfortable room offering, multiple dining options, wide-range of facilities and convenient location, the hotel is a great fit for guests visiting on pilgrimage or business.”

Four Points by Sheraton is the most globally distributed brand in Marriott International’s Classic Select category, boasting nearly 250 hotels in nearly 40 countries and territories and more than 120 signed hotels in the pipeline. In the Middle East, the brand will open six new hotels and over 1,200 rooms in the next five years. — SG