Hilton Worldwide has announced the opening of its first tower at the 480-room Hilton Suites Makkah hotel in the heartland of Saudi Arabia.

The 480-room contemporary luxury hotel split into two towers, boasts of a fabulous location overlooking the Kaaba and Holy Haram, said a senior official .

It features a range of amenities designed for both the business and religious guest. Guest rooms are designed to convey a sense of balance, space, luxury, comfort and symmetry, featuring a unique color scheme based on the five times of prayers throughout the day – sunrise, noon, late afternoon, sunset and night time – in addition to generous work areas and WiFi access.

Ideal for families and groups, the hotels offers spacious suites with superior views of either the city or the Holy Haram, a separate living area and several amenities including a 24-hour fitness center, business center, car parking and an in-house clinic onsite for instant medical care.

Rob Palleschi, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, said, "Overlooking the Grand Holy Masjid in the centre of Makkah, the Jabal Omar development – one of the largest hotel developments in the world – meets the growing demand for a wider variety of accommodations from the rising number of travellers visiting Saudi Arabia every year."

We look forward to welcoming visitors to this important region to our fifth hotel in the country, and to offering guests the world-class service and amenities for which the Hilton brand is known,” he added.

Just 100km from Jeddah International Airport, many of the city’s holy sites and popular Makkah attractions are just a short distance from the hotel.

Pilgrims and guests can visit the Masjid al-Haram and the Kaaba, drink water from ZamZam Well, hike to the peak of Jabal al-Nour – the Mountain of Light, admire the fascinating exhibits on display at Makkah Museum and shop in one of the many stores at the extensive Makkah Mall.

Rudi Jagersbacher, president, Hilton Worldwide MEA, "We entered the holy city 19 years ago with our maiden property Makkah Hilton & Towers, the first international hotel to open here. The launch complements the existing hotel and supports the growing pace of visitors going to Makkah.”

"In addition, this regional growth will allow Hilton Worldwide to support the Saudization employment plan," he stated.

Ismail Sirry, the general manager, Hilton Suites Makkah said, “Hilton has a well-recognized presence in Makkah as well as the region, and with the opening of Hilton Suites Makkah we aim to continue delivering the Arabian hospitality and comfort to meet our guests’ needs and ease their hardship during their spiritual journey.”-TradeArabia News Service