Accor, one of the largest hotel operators in the region and the leader in the mid-market lodging segment, has signed a management contract with Sons of Ahmed Saleh Kaki, a family owned diversified business group, to develop the first Novotel hotel in Jeddah. The new hotel joins Accor’s rapidly expanding KSA network, which currently includes 12 hotels representing over 3,000 rooms.

Christophe Landais, Managing Director Accor Middle East, said: “We are pleased to join forces with our partner Ahmed Saleh Kaki Sons Company in this new business venture. We have a common objective to develop the tourism industry in the Kingdom and to create a modern and natural way of hotel living, which guests can fully experience through our Novotel brand.”

“We are rapidly growing our network in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is a key market for us. We just recently signed two new contracts for Sofitel and Suite Novotel in Riyadh, and have now a pipeline totaling eight projects under construction in the Kingdom.”
Novotel Jeddah will be situated in a prime location on Tahlia Street, which is known for its luxury shopping and recreational areas, at the crossing with Madinah Road, the most central artery in Jeddah. With easy access to the airport and the central business district, it is also in close proximity to the Jeddah Corniche.

Abdulwahab Ahmed Saleh Kaki, Vice President of Saudi Arabia-based Sons of Ahmed Saleh Kaki said: “We are delighted to partner with Accor, a trusted and globally recognised partner. With Accor’s know-how and strong presence worldwide, we are confident in their expertise and capability to successfully manage our new property. We also share a common vision with Accor and we believe that together we can succeed in growing travel and tourism in KSA, particularly in that mid-market segment that is so far not well served.”

The hotel is under advanced construction and is due to open by the end of 2013. It will feature 143 rooms and suites, a restaurant and lobby lounge, 350 square metres of meeting space, a health club and swimming pool.

The Novotel brand is well-known for its nearly 400 modern hotels which offer spacious rooms for family holidays or business trips, and its fundamental values reflect modernity, good design, simplicity and efficiency.

Two Novotel hotels are already operational in Saudi Arabia - Novotel Riyadh Al Anoud and Novotel Dammam Business Park, whilst Novotel Jizan Corniche is currently under development and is due to open in 2015. Currently, there are 10 operational Novotel hotels in the Middle East - four in Egypt, three in the UAE, two in KSA and one in Bahrain.

Accor’s current portfolio in the region totals 59 hotels with 14,000 rooms and with Novotel Jeddah’s recent signing, the Group has now 24 hotels in the pipeline representing 6,000 rooms.