Carlson Rezidor to Open 2 Radisson Blu Properties in Saudi Arabia

By Gabriel Circiog, Associate Editor

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has increased its portfolio in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the addition of two upscale Radisson Blu properties: The Radisson Blu Resort Al Khobar Aziziya and Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence Unaizah.

“Saudi Arabia enjoys continuous economic growth and a healthy hospitality industry,” said Wolfgang Neumann, president & CEO of Rezidor. “It is one of our key focus countries for future business development, and we look forward to further expanding our network across the Kingdom. We are delighted to partner with Al Fahd Group in contributing to Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure and hospitality developments.”

The Radisson Blu Resort Al Khobar Aziziya, scheduled to open in the last quarter of 2015, will feature 186 rooms and will be one of the first quality beach resorts on the Al Khobar coast of Half Moon Bay in the Al Aziziya district. Situated around 31 miles from the Dammam International Airport and less than six miles from the King Fahd Causeway that links to Bahrain, the hotel will feature a 3,552-square-foot all-day dining restaurant, a 2,153-square-foot lobby café and more than 2,900 square feet of meeting and event facilities. The Radisson Blu Resort Al Khobar Aziziya will also feature 3,767 square feet of wellness facilities with gym, outdoor pool and sauna.

The Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence Unaizah will feature 180 units, including 90 hotel rooms, ten suites, 80 serviced apartments and potentially up to ten villas, and is scheduled to open in the second quarter 2016. Guests will have access to numerous facilities including 19,375 square feet of meeting and banquet space which will include a ballroom, an all-day dining restaurant, a pool café, a specialty restaurant, gym and spa.

Located in the Al Fahd district of Unaizah’s upcoming downtown area, the hotel is already under construction and will be part of a 2 million-square-meter (21,527,820-square-foot) master development lead by Al Fahd Group. The site is located on what will become the city’s and the province’s main artery: King Abdullah Road. The hotel will be situated close to the city’s largest planned shopping mall and to various commercial developments. The University of Unaizah and the new government offices will be located across from the site.

“We are committed to ongoing investments in the hotel sector in order to meet the growing demand for quality accommodation in the Kingdom. The regions of Saudi Arabia are witnessing rapid tourism development, and Al-Fahd Investments will continue to capitalize on this enormous potential by increasing its contribution to this vital sector of the Kingdom’s economy”, said Ahmad Bin Fahd Al-Fahd, president of hospitality for Al-Fahd Investments.

With the addition of the two new Radisson Blu properties, Carlson Rezidor’s portfolio in Saudi Arabia now features 16 hotels in operation and under development.