promotion MAKARIM HOTELS & RESORTS
Hospitality at its best As a swathe of new hotels open up across the country, Makarim Hospitality
Group, which is the hotel operating arm of Saudi Hotels & Resorts Co. looks to its local roots for an edge against the competition
A key focus for Makarim now and in the
future is religious tourism. Four of its hotels are situated in Makkah with more in the pipline, which attracts more than six million pilgrims from around the world each year. At present high demand is met by low supply in the Holy City, where many of the older hotels were razed to make way for the expansion of the Grand Mosque in 2011. This shortage will not last long however with dozens of hotels and hotel apart- ments due to open over the coming years. Makarim is one among a growing number
of homegrown operators in the country, many of which are also placing a particular focus on catering to pilgrims. However, though its brand name is new, Makarim draws on the wealth of experience amassed by Sharaco over more than 35 years in the industry. “Makarim has been operating without the brand name for a long time now so we know the quality, price and service that people are looking for and in turn, they know what to expect from us,” Al Otaibi says.
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When Saudi Hotels & Resorts Co. (Sharaco) was founded in 1976, the Kingdom’s tourism landscape looked very different. Then, the focus was primarily on religious tourism and hospitality infrastructure outside the Holy Cities was extremely limited. Now, with major international hotel brands opening up in cities across the Kingdom to cater to rapidly growing demand, Makarim is drawing on its experience in the market and affinity with the local culture to diversify its holdings and foster further growth. While Sharaco focuses on increasing its portfolio, the day-to-day management of the
1 Makarim Ajyad Makkah Hotel 2 Makarim Umm Alqura Hotel
hotels has been handed over to Makarim Hospitality Group. The local operator, which was formed two years ago, now oversees 10 hotels and resorts operated or owned by the company with a combined total of more than 1870 rooms. These establishments, which include Makarim Ajyad Makkah Hotel, Makarim Riyadh Hotel, Makarim Tabuk Hotel, Makarim Umm Alqura Hotel and Makarim Annakheel Village, are characterized by their distinct local flavor with international standards. “Makarim hotels and resorts offer guests an authentic experience of the Kingdom. This is a Saudi Arabian company and that comes across in the service and facilities we offer, from the national staff on the front desk to the Arabian-style décor in the rooms,” says Sultan B. Otaibi, general manager of Makarim Hospitality Group.
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qatar 2013/ 71
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