Travel in city Riyadh

Net room growth is a key metric for any hotel group, but one which Accor assures it is growing with caution. Its CEO Sebastien Bazin said that developing new hotels comes with environmental consequences the industry cannot ignore, but that in the end, new hotels are often good news for any destination.

As passenger numbers in the Middle East are predicted to reach 429 million this year, representing a 5.4% increase on 2019 figures, a panel of aviation experts convened at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) yesterday to discuss how the market is changing, outlining their predictions for the future of air travel. The session, ‘Looking Skyward for Innovation: How Technology is Disrupting Aviation’, was moderated by travel expert Mark Frary and included panellists from Cirium, IATA, AviationXLab, and Riyadh Air.

The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) marked the start of this year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM) by showcasing the Kingdom’s spectacular summer destinations to trade partners as the country’s tourism sector continues to go from strength to strength, said the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday.

New Saudi Arabian carrier Riyadh Air plans to sell package holidays alongside its flight tickets. The government-funded airline is part of Saudi’s attempt to become a global aviation hub, boosting its tourism sector in the process.

Over the past 90 years three generations of the Cipriani family have developed their business into an international hospitality brand, with restaurants, landmarked event spaces, luxury residential, hotels and private membership clubs throughout the most prestigious cities in the world. Locations include Venice, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Monte Carlo, Ibiza, Mexico City, Dubai, Riyadh, Las Vegas and the upcoming Punta del Este, Milan, Jeddah, Istanbul and Doha.

Are Saudi Arabia’s new tourism offerings too pricey? That’s the sentiment on the ground at the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) in Riyadh this week.

Throughout April, we're honoring the ancient Arab tradition of hakawatis, or storytellers, highlighting the writers, performers, and poets who are driving the conversation around what it means to be Arab American today—and celebrating the rich culture and histories of the diaspora.

Radisson Hotel Group continues to intensify its efforts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, aligning with the Saudi 2030 vision for hospitality. Building on a robust five-year expansion and transformation plan, the Group aims to establish itself as the preferred brand for owners, partners, and guests by strengthening its presence in major and secondary cities across the Kingdom.

Radisson Hotel Group continues to intensify its efforts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, aligning with the Saudi 2030 vision for hospitality. Building on a robust five-year expansion and transformation plan, the Group aims to establish itself as the preferred brand for owners, partners, and guests by strengthening its presence in major and secondary cities across the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia is projected to have 320,000 new hotel rooms by 2030 as the Kingdom ramps up efforts to accommodate an annual influx of 150mn tourists, both domestic and international, according to a report by global property consultancy Knight Frank. This massive expansion of the hospitality sector is central to achieving Saudi Arabia’s goal of increasing the travel and tourism industry’s contribution to the economy from nearly 6% to 10% by the end of this decade, the report stated.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is expected to deliver 320,000 new hotel rooms – with a development cost of US$37.8 billion – by 2030 as part of its unprecedented investment in infrastructure, tourism transformation and real estate, according to industry data released ahead of the Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia, 29 April to 1 May.

Recent data from global research companies indicates a bright future for the GCC hospitality industry, with insights from Deloitte and STR demonstrating sustained growth as tourism continues to be a key priority for regional governments. The upcoming edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), a premier global event in travel and tourism, will serve as a pivotal gathering for hospitality stakeholders when it takes place from 6 to 9 May at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

It’s that time of year again – and it’s all about spending time with family and loved ones. Make the most of your Eid with a staycation to the world’s most exciting destination, and its right on your doorstep – Saudi! The best news? There are so many deals to choose from… and there’s still plenty of time to book and get your bags packed for your time off!

The agreement is seen as an incentive to facilitate the digital donation process for AlFursan members through the Saudia website and mobile application.

The Saudi Tourism Authority has said that the kingdom aims to make India its top source market. The country is seeking to bring in 7.5 million Indian visitors over the next seven years. 

Flydubai has announced twice-weekly flights from Dubai to The Red Sea – the luxury archipelago project Saudi Arabia is building along the coast. The route is due to start on April 18 and marks the first international flight to The Red Sea project.

Chinese outbound tourism is steadily rebounding from the effects of the pandemic, with projections indicating a return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2025.

Saudi Arabia's futuristic capital, Riyadh, is a major commercial and financial hub set on a desert plateau in the centre of the country.

Partly-owned by one of the richest Saudi royals in the world, Four Seasons is on its way to becoming one of the most dominant luxury hotel chains in the country.

Hilton has signed deals for three new hotels in Saudi Arabia: There are two Curio Collections, one focused on “eco” and the other on adventure. And an LXR resort will be an “agritourism” property as part of a tie-in with Saudi’s new farming tourism organization, Dan Company.

Etihad Airways is profitable again and a turnaround program is progressing well. Could an IPO be next? 

Saudi Arabia’s Travel & Tourism sector achieved a 156% increase in international tourist arrivals in 2023 compared to 2019.