Rove Hotels, a joint venture of Meraas and Emaar Properties, has announced its plans to expand to Saudi Arabia.

Rove King Abdullah Economic City, located centrally in the Bay La Sun waterfront district of King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), will be the first hotel under the contemporary midscale lifestyle hotel brand outside the UAE.

It will feature 240 rooms, fitness centres for ladies and gentlemen, and a wide range of lifestyle amenities that underpin the brand values of Rove Hotels to deliver reliable, modern and super-efficient hospitality services that appeal to all. The construction work is anticipated to start in the second quarter of 2018 with the soft opening scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2019.

Designed for the highly mobile and socially connected generation of travellers and entrepreneurs, Rove Hotels offers value-driven lifestyle choices and uplifting experiences. It has four operational hotels and four upcoming properties in Dubai. The operational hotels - Rove Downtown, Rove City Centre, Rove Healthcare City and Rove Trade Centre - are popular among Saudi visitors to Dubai for their convenient location and easy access to the city’s attractions.

Like all Rove Hotels, Rove King Abdullah Economic City also takes its contemporary design cues from its surroundings. All rooms will have 48-inch interactive TV screens with smart media hubs and free wi-fi. Comfortable mattresses, sofa beds for extra guests, mini-fridges, safety lockers and modern bathrooms with power rain showers are standard for all rooms. Several rooms will be interconnected, ensuring the hotel is suitable for groups and families with children.

Other amenities include a 24-hour gym, food and beverage outlets, lobby areas, outdoor pool and deck, kids pool, parking spaces, spacious meeting rooms, 24-hour self-service laundromat, convenience store, luggage store rooms and safety deposit boxes. Guests have the convenience of a late check-out time of 2pm and a range of smart services including Wi-Fi connectivity.
   
“King Abdullah Economic City is fast establishing a reputation as the domestic destination of choice for leisure visitors and business events and conferences. Our expanding range of entertainment and leisure offerings are having a tremendous impact on the city’s appeal and ability to deliver a standout experience for visitors,” said Ramzi Solh, CEO, Real Estate Operation and Management Company. “We have an aggressive development plan to expand our hotel and resort portfolio. Rove King Abdullah Economic City will be a valuable addition to our existing offer and will further expand our appeal to Saudi millennials seeking a quality hotel experience.”

Olivier Harnisch, chief executive officer of Emaar Hospitality Group, said: “Rove King Abdullah Economic City brings the innovative concept of contemporary midscale hospitality experiences to the Kingdom. Its location in KAEC, one of the fastest growing business and leisure hubs, will make it a preferred choice not only for the young and trendy but also to travellers from around the world seeking value hospitality in a premier setting. The expansion complements the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 to drive economic diversification with tourism development as a strategic growth area.”

Paul Bridger, corporate director of operations, Rove Hotels, said: “With five star hotels accounting for the majority of hotel rooms, the need for high quality midscale hotels is significant in the kingdom. Rove Hotels is addressing the industry ‘white space’ through a new hotel concept that not only helps address the gap in midscale hotel rooms but also creates vibrant social spaces for the young tech-savvy Saudis. The philosophy of Rove Hotels is to deliver culturally inspiring and fuss-free service in central locations. Bay La Sun in King Abdullah Economic City is an ideal destination for the first Rove hotel in Saudi Arabia.”

King Abdullah Economic City is set by the Red Sea, one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes and a gateway to some of the fastest developing global economies.

It covers an area of 181-sq-km of land, approximately the size of Washington DC, and comprises the King Abdullah Port, the Coastal Communities residential districts, the Hejaz district and the Industrial Valley, highlighting the business and leisure opportunities it offers. The city is one of five stops on the soon-to-open Haramain high Speed rail network, placing it on one-hour journey from each of the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah.

King Abdullah Economic City welcomed 400,000 visitors in 2017, more than double the number of visitors in 2016 and hosted a wide range of high-profile leisure events including concerts by Michel Fadel, Yanni, Cheb Khalid and Nelly. King Abdullah Economic City is also home to a number of world-class leisure amenities, including the international award-winning Royal Greens Golf Club and the brand-new Bay la Sun Yacht Club and Marina. - TradeArabia News Service