STAMFORD, CT—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., along with Sulaiman Abdulaziz Al Rajhi Real Estate Investments Company LLC, will launch Four Points by Sheraton Makkah Al Naseem. Scheduled to open in Q2 2016, the hotel will be the brand’s largest property globally, with more than 1,000 rooms, and will be located in the Al Naseem district on the outskirts of central Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
“As religious travel continues to grow in Saudi Arabia, Four Points is the perfect brand to meet the rising demand for affordable yet innovative accommodation options in Makkah,” said Michael Wale, president, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “With 10 operating hotels in the country and nine in the pipeline, Saudi Arabia is our second largest market in the Middle East, and we look forward to more growth opportunities in the Kingdom.”
The new Four Points will offer 1,139 rooms, seven food and beverage outlets, and easy access to the central area of the city through a direct road tunnel from the hotel. Amenities will include the signature Four Points by Sheraton bed, complimentary bottled water and free WiFi in all public areas.
The Four Points brand has become Starwood’s largest and fastest growing development pipeline. Four Points Makkah Al Naseem will be the first midmarket branded property from Starwood to operate in Makkah, diversifying and expanding the company’s offering in the holy city.
“Our mid-market brands are experiencing unprecedented growth in the Middle East, representing 50% of the company’s pipeline in the region,” said Neil George, SVP, acquisitions and development, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Africa and Middle East. “Along with Four Points by Sheraton Makkah Al Naseem, we will introduce Four Points in Sharjah, Erbil and Jeddah, where there is a strong demand for hotels that cater to the modern, everyday traveler.”
Starwood operates 50 hotels and resorts across the Middle East under eight of the company’s 10 lifestyle brands—The Luxury Collection, St. Regis, Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, Le Méridien, Four Points by Sheraton and Aloft. The company plans to double its portfolio in the next five years.