Louvre Hotels Group, one of the largest hospitality groups in the world, has announced plans to launch 31 new hotels in Saudi Arabia. 

 

The properties are due to open by the end of 2025 and will add 6,552 keys to the group’s current room inventory, taking its total number of rooms in the kingdom to more than 8,500 and establishing Louvre Hotels as one of the country’s biggest players.

 

The expansion will commence with the opening of five new properties throughout 2021. Louvre has teamed up with private sector investment partners to launch three- and four-star hotels in a series of key destinations. Golden Tulip Riyadh (Phase 1: 94 rooms) and Golden Tulip Unaizah (84 rooms) are scheduled to open their doors during Q1, and will be joined by the Tulip Inn Dammam Corniche (70 rooms), the Tulip Inn Al Balaad Madinah (150 rooms) in Q3 and Golden Tulip Umm Al Qurah (454 rooms) in Makkah during Q4.

 

As part of Louvre’s long-term expansion plans in the region, the group will be introducing midscale lifestyle properties under its popular Campanile brand in the kingdom for the first time, which caters to the needs of modern Saudi guests seeking touchless, tech-forward solutions and ample communal spaces within the hotels. Campanile Hotels tap into the market for budget-friendly accommodation yet place a major emphasis on community building, and are ideally suited to meet the growing demand emerging from Saudi Arabia’s innovative tourism landscape for both leisure and business travellers.

 

Commenting on the expansion plans, Pierre-Frédéric Roulot, CEO of Louvre Hotels Group, said: ““Saudi Arabia is a key market for our international expansion, particularly as the country places more importance on travel and tourism with such a vast array of spectacular destinations within the Kingdom. We are proud to be introducing a fresh product offering this year in key markets such as Riyadh and Makkah. The launching of our midscale Campanile brand in this region is very important for us as we aim to create a footprint of affordable smart hotels for both domestic and international travelers. This meets the aspirations of young Saudis during a period of tremendous change as the kingdom continues to open its doors to the world. This lifestyle brand is designed for the needs of today’s travellers, focusing on conviviality, but also symbolizing the French art de vivre with a strong concept and history.”

 

The addition of the Campanile brand will complement the group’s collection of 16 existing properties in top resort, cultural and urban destinations across Saudi Arabia under Louvre’s 11 brands, including Kyriad, Tulip Inn, Golden Tulip, Tulip Residences and Royal Tulip. The growing emphasis on budget-friendly, tech-focused accommodation reflects the kingdom’s drive to enhance its offerings for all market segments, in line with the Vision 2030 goal of attracting more than 100 million visitors by the end of the decade.

 

Louvre Hotels Group’s contribution to achieving the goals of Vision 2030 extends beyond providing attractive and diverse accommodation options for the expected influx of tourists; the new properties will result in the creation of more than 3,500 hospitalty related jobs for Saudi nationals. The group is also planning to support the transfer of knowledge and industry expertise through the cross-training of team members at its recently opened Technical Institute at the Campanile Rungis in the heart of the famed French gastronomic hub and world’s largest international food market.

 

Created to host passionate young hoteliers from across the globe and impart Louvre’s decades of experience in food and beverage, entertainment and customer service from leading experts in their fields, the Institute will play a crucial role in transmitting excellence in service, food and catering across the Saudi Hotels participating in the program.

 

Amine E. Moukarzel, President, Louvre Hotels Group MENA, commented: “We are delighted to further expand our footprint in Saudi Arabia with the opening of these new properties, which will deliver world-class service for visitors and cater to the needs of diverse market segments. Louvre’s continuing growth builds upon our existing portfolio in the kingdom and will support the objectives of Vision 2030, the government’s ambitious roadmap to sustainable prosperity. Through the launch of these hotels, we are not only contributing to the development of the flourishing local tourism industry, but also creating career opportunities for Saudi nationals and helping shape the future of the kingdom’s hospitality scene by sharing industry knowledge at our Technical Institute in France.”

 

Louvre Hotel Group’s presence in Saudi Arabia has already attracted a loyal following among travellers, with the Royal Tulip Sharma Resort in NEOM in particular proving extremely popular with guests. In addition to the planned upcoming openings, Louvre Hotels Group is exploring opportunities with the Saudi Ministry of Tourism for sustainable hotel developments at various natural sites across the Kingdom’s unique landscape. - TradeArabia News Service