Swissôtel has announced it has entered into a franchise agreement with Al Shiddi International for the development of a new 218-room urban resort scheduled to open in early 2018.

Situated next to the Bosnian Parliament, within the expansive mixed use Sarajevo City Centre project, consisting of shopping mall and office tower with 30,000 daily visitors, Swissôtel Sarajevo will enjoy a commanding downtown commercial and residential location.

Close to top attractions and Sarajevo International Airport, the hotel will be a new landmark for Sarajevo.

The project is being developed and operated by Al Shiddi International from Riyadh, one of the prominent investment companies in Saudi Arabia with an extensive portfolio of investments locally and globally featuring financial services, real estate, agriculture, manufacturing, industrial and retail.

Interiors are designed by Scott Brownrigg Associates, a leading UK hotel design firm with extensive experience in high end hotel development across Europe.

The hotel will offer scenic all-glass views of the downtown and mountains, and stunning guestrooms featuring spacious bedrooms.

“This is an exciting new addition for the Swissôtel brand and a perfect complement to our company’s growing portfolio of city and resort destinations throughout Europe,” said Duncan O’Rourke, chief executive for luxury brands, Europe, for AccorHotels.

“In keeping with Swissôtel’s brand promise of promoting quality in life, the resort will offer a very inspiring atmosphere which will be bolstered with local attributes authentic to the locale.

“To be pairing an unbelievable urban resort product with the growing organic paradise that Bosnia is becoming known for is nothing short of magic.”

Surrounded by EU member Croatia, Bosnia is a country with a population of four million.

It is one of European leading new discovery holiday hotspots featuring annual 20 per cent increase in the tourist arrival for the past five years.

It has recently added several direct flights to the Gulf Cooperation Council as is a host to world-famous Sarajevo Film Festival.