From left: Nabil Hazaa, President, Designs Company; Laurent A. Voivenel, CEO of Hospitality Management Holdings; Al Sheikh Mohamed Ebrahim Abdulrahim, owner of Mobarak Hotels Group; Eng. Mohammad Al-Nadi, Technical Manager of Proart; and Fuad Sabagh, Vice President, Mobarak Hotels Group

 

MADINAH — Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH) – a fully-integrated hotel management company founded in 2003 in Dubai that prides itself on being the first hotel chain in the Middle East to offer alcohol-free safe environment – has entered into a management agreement with Mobarak Hotels Group for operating Coral Al Madina Hotel.



Al Sheikh Mohamed Ebrahim Abdulrahim, Chairman of Mobarak Hotels Group and Laurent A. Voivenel, CEO of HMH signed the deal at a ceremony held in Madinah on Wednesday.



Sheikh Mohammed bin Faisal Al Qassimi, CEO of Faisal Holding LLC and Vice Chairman of HMH, along with senior government dignitaries, tourism officials and prominent businessmen attended the function.



Abdulrahim said “our business vision is in line with the Saudi authorities’ plans for expanding the Holy Mosque of Prophet Mohammad and development of adjoining area. Therefore, Mobarak Hotels Group has appointed Designs Company that is specialized in providing integrated hotel solutions to oversee our growth and expansion. As part of this strategic agreement, Designs Company will be responsible for developing world-class hospitality products and facilities around the Holy Mosque to meet the needs of growing Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. With an initial investment of SR1 billion, Designs Company and Mobarak Hotels Groups have entered into a management contract with HMH – Hospitality Management Holdings for operating Coral Al Madina Hotel. As part of this strategic understanding, we will hand over the management of four other 4-star hotels under development in the same area to HMH.”



Addressing the exclusive gathering, Laurent said “Saudi Arabia is a key development market for HMH. We are very proud to debut in the Holy City of Madinah and to enter into this very important partnership with Mobarak Hotels Group. We are truly grateful to them for having given us this opportunity. The hospitality industry in Madinah is witnessing remarkable growth at the moment and we are very excited to be part of it. HMH is well-positioned in the Kingdom as one of the leading regional hotel groups equipped with the most advanced technology. We are confident Coral Al Madina Hotel will add tremendous value to our growing presence in Saudi Arabia and further strengthen our portfolio.”



Al Sheikh Mohamed stressed that “Coral Al Madina Hotel has been conceived to be a prestigious address for discerning travellers to Madinah and is superbly located just across the road overlooking the Holy Mosque. It is a very significant project for us and we are pleased to appoint HMH as the operator who are well-equipped to meet the needs of the Saudi hotel sector in accordance with the best international standards. I wish to take this opportunity to thank all partners with us in this amazing investment that is unique in every way.”



Featuring 400-plus rooms and suites, Coral Al Madina Hotel is spread over 10 floors and five basements. Included in its extensive facilities are three superb restaurants, lobby lounge, luggage room, shopping arcade, fully-equipped gym and spa, two state-of-the-art meeting rooms, business center and large parking space as well as helicopter landing site. The luxurious 5-star hotel is expected to welcome its first guests by Ramadan 2015.



Haj and Umrah tourism is a major source of revenue in Saudi Arabia and a mainstay of its economy. The number of pilgrims, which stood at 2 million in 2013, is expected to increase to 5.2 million by 2025. Aviation and hospitality infrastructure are, therefore, being rapidly developed to boost opportunities in Haj and Umrah.



The expansion of the airport in Jeddah is expected to accommodate 80 million people by 2035. At the same time Prince Muhammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah too is undergoing massive expansion with 83 percent of the project already complete. Madinah Airport is considered the third most important gateway to the Kingdom and the second most important airport during the Haj and Umrah pilgrimage seasons. Madinah receives an estimated 11 million visitors per year. Aviation traffic is slated to increase by 27 percent with the new expansion. The first phase of the project will be ready by early January 2015. The airport will accommodate nearly eight million travellers annually once it starts operating. Upcoming phases include increasing airport capacity to 14 million passengers a year, while the third phase will see the premises accommodate almost 27 million people.  — SG