Ashraf AboArafe
Dubai – The Saudi Tourism Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Arabian Travel Market 2023 with IHG Hotels & Resorts®️, one of the leading hotel companies in the world, which owns more than 6,000 thousand hotels across 18 distinct hotel brands. Signing a memorandum of understanding with the Saudi Tourism Authority. The memorandum of understanding provides a framework for both parties to explore ways and means to increase the number of visits to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from major markets, across the Middle East and Africa. This includes the development of customized promotions, co-marketing campaigns, and promotions through loyalty programs, which will contribute to highlighting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s position as one of the most exciting and attractive destinations in the world.
The agreement was signed at the Saudi pavilion at the Arabian Travel Market 2023 held in Dubai, and was signed by James Bretchford, Vice President Commercial Affairs at IHG Hotels and Resorts in India, the Middle East and Africa, and Munira Abanami, responsible for Marketing partnerships for the Middle East and Africa in the Saudi Tourism Authority
The Kingdom represents a major market for tourism in the Middle East, and it occupies a priority for the IHG Hotels & Resorts group, especially in light of the efforts and aspirations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to reach the goal of 100 million visitors by 2030. The group also aims to support the tourism sector in The Kingdom by enhancing the presence and spread of its existing brands, in addition to launching new brands within the framework of its global portfolio, in addition to managing promotional campaigns for various destinations within Saudi Arabia. IHG Hotels and Resorts, within the framework of its plans and strategy, is looking forward to contributing to providing support for the Kingdom’s economic vision by investing in developing Saudi talents, as it aims to employ about 6,000 Saudi citizens through its growing business portfolio by 2030.
Abdul Karim Al-Darwish, CEO of the Middle East and Africa markets at the Saudi Tourism Authority, said, “This partnership with the IHG Hotels and Resorts Group comes within the framework of the Saudi Tourism Authority’s keenness to conclude strategic partnerships with major international companies and prestigious brands, with a wide reach and reach.” At the global and regional level, which enhances the efforts of the Saudi Tourism Authority in attracting tourists and enriching their tourism experience by providing products, offers and packages.”
For his part, James Bretchford, Vice President of Commercial Affairs at IHG Hotels & Resorts Group in India, the Middle East and Africa, said, “We are pleased to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the Saudi Tourism Authority, which comes within the framework of our commitment to support the growth of the tourism sector in The kingdom. Where cooperation with major government agencies, such as the Saudi Tourism Authority, is of great importance, as it gives us the opportunity to enhance the attractive destinations and distinctive tourism offers that the Kingdom has worked on developing, and contribute to promoting them to our guests in all markets.
It should be noted that IHG Hotels and Resorts is expanding its presence in major cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, Makkah, Dammam and Khobar, in addition to major projects, by strengthening its services by adding more than 10,000 new hotel rooms to its portfolio. list over the next two to three years. This step will significantly enhance the country’s tourism infrastructure and provide a variety of hotel accommodation options, across luxury, leisure, religious and business tourism. IHG Hotels and Resorts currently operates 37 hotels across five brands in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia, including InterContinental Hotels, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites and Voco, in addition to 31 hotels under development scheduled to open within the next three to five years.
The Saudi Tourism Authority was launched in 2020 to support the growth of the travel and tourism sector by meeting the needs of tourism companies and other business partners. It is the entity responsible for tourism marketing to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia globally. It also undertakes the task of developing the tourist experience, developing tourist products and packages, supporting and activating the role of the private sector, and participating in exhibitions and conferences at the local and international levels. It has 16 representative offices covering 38 countries around the world. .
