Australia’s largest privately owned hotel management company StayWell Hospitality Group (SWHG) has signed a management agreement to operate two Park Regis properties in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

The deal was signed in Dubai by StayWell CEO Simon Wan and Riyad Alhoraibi, the CEO of Asas Capital, the owner of the properties.

Expected to open in the second quarter of 2018, the two hotels boast 286 and 344 guest rooms, respectively.

This development will be one of the latest openings for the fast growing international brand which has a presence in Australia, Singapore, the UAE, India, the UK and Indonesia, a statement said.

Wan said that formalising the management agreement for the hotels is a strategic move for the Sydney-based company in entering the established Saudi Arabia market to grow its presence in the Middle East further.

“These two unique hotels will offer guests superb dining options as well as deluxe accommodation within walking distance to the Grand Mosque in Makkah. The hotels are targeting to open in time for the 2018 Haj.

"We are looking forward to both hotels complementing our existing Park Regis Kris Kin and our upcoming Park Regis Business Bay hotel, located in Dubai.  We are also actively looking for further opportunities to expand our network in the Middle East,” he said.

Riyad Alhoraibi said: “Discussions on the Park Regis Makkah hotels first started at ATM 2015 and over the ensuing months the relationship developed culminating in the signing of agreement for the two properties just weeks before the 2016 ATM.

“We are delighted to be able to offer guests a range of accommodation in Ibrahim Al Khalil Street within walking distance from the Haram,” he said.

The opening of the Park Regis Makkah hotels will bring the StayWell Hospitality Group’s portfolio to 31 hotels worldwide and four in the region and a step closer to the group’s strategic objective of expanding its portfolio to 100 hotels within three years, the statement said. - TradeArabia News Service