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KSA THROUGH THE EYES OF HOTELIER HANS SCHILLER industry in Europe, Africa and Middle East has been very enlightening and exciting for me. I learned about several different cultures, which I embraced with enthusiasm.
What challenges are you facing in your role as Hilton Riyadh Hotel & Residences general manager?
Hans Schiller, GM of Hilton Riyadh and Residences, believes that passion and attitude are core factors in success. Here, the accomplished hotelier discusses the Saudi market. What are your thoughts when reflecting on your 26 years of experience in hospitality across the Middle East and Africa? Working in the hospitality field has always been something that I enjoy and I am passionate about. But working in this
Being transparent with the team throughout the pandemic was key for everyone to feel safe. In addition, we activated the blue energy committee to conduct many team-building activities that were appropriate with the pandemic restrictions. These activities definitely excited and motivated the employees.
How do you see KSA evolving as a tourism hub? Hilton is opening many hotels in Saudi Arabia in the years ahead, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for tourism in Saudi Arabia. Amaala, Red Sea projects, Riyadh and Jeddah season are just a few of the kingdom’s efforts to diversify the economy by promoting tourism. hilton.com Read the full interview on hospitalitynewsmag.com
ENVI LODGES PARTNERS WITH BEYOND GREEN
IN BRIEF Radisson Hotel Group doubles its presence in Makkah, adding nearly 1,000 keys
Radisson Hotel Group announced the signing of three hotels within the Thakher Makkah megaproject, an urban development in the city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The new signings will add a total of 992 rooms and apartments, doubling the group’s portfolio in Makkah, a key target growth market in Saudi Arabia. radissonhotelgroup.com St. Regis Hotels & Resorts to debut in Morocco, Oman and Qatar
Solidifying St. Regis Hotels & Resorts’ position as a leader in luxury, the brand expects to expand its existing portfolio of 15 curated resorts, with plans to debut 11 new escapes by 2025 in some of the world’s most coveted leisure destinations, including the Caribbean, North America, North Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific. St. Regis has 49 open hotels and resorts today, with 29 hotels and resorts in its pipeline, representing expected growth of nearly 60 percent over the next five years in both urban and leisure destinations. In the Middle East, the brand plans to grow its presence in Qatar with the expected early 2022 opening of The St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island, The Pearl, which features architecture influenced by the distinct Andalusian and Arabesque style and offers views of the Arabian Gulf. The brand also anticipates celebrating its entry into Oman in 2024 with The St. Regis Al Mouj Resort in Muscat. Additionally, St. Regis is expected to open a property in Africa, with the debut of the St. Regis Marrakech Resort slated for 2025. marriott.com Dur Hospitality launches Nur by Makarem, a three-star hotel brand
ENVI Lodges has signed a partnership agreement with Beyond Green, a global portfolio of hotels, lodges and resorts representing sustainable tourism leadership. Beyond Green is owned by Preferred Hotel Group, an international leader in the hospitality industry that provides high-performance sales, marketing and technology solutions to independent hotels and resorts. As part of the partnership with Beyond Green, ENVI will also benefit from I Prefer, Preferred Hotel Group’s loyalty rewards program, allowing guests to earn and redeem points in more than 650 hotels and resorts across 80 countries.
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HOSPITALITY NEWS ME | DEC 2021-JAN 2022
ENVI Lodges launched in September 2021 as the GCC’s first luxury eco-lodge brand and management company. ENVI shares Beyond Green’s core values — nature, culture and community — from its design to its operating philosophy. Upon the completion of a required onsite inspection, every ENVI lodge will benefit from Beyond Green’s global distribution system, worldwide call and sales centers, booking engine, connectivity to OTAs, and 200 luxury travel advisor partners. envilodges.com Read the full interview on hospitalitynewsmag.com
Seeking to redefine affordable hospitality in Saudi through home-grown brands, Dur Hospitality unveiled Nur by Makarem, its new three-star hotel brand during its participation at the World Travel Market London as part of the Saudi Tourism Authority’s pavilion. Nur by Makarem will convert, operate and manage three-star hotels in Makkah and Madinah, providing hotel owners with the opportunity of having their facilities rebranded to correspond with the “Nur” standard, fully transforming the facility and services in record time. Nur’s viable business model will contribute to the sustainability of the three-star hotels sector while ensuring its adherence to international standards. dur.sa
