Hyatt announced that it will use the annual Arabian Travel Market (ATM) exhibition in Dubai as a platform for updating its key regional stakeholders on its development plans for major properties in Saudi Arabia and France, two critically-strategic markets for the US-headquartered hospitality company.

Within Hyatt’s pipeline are the 257-room, 37-suite Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, and Hyatt Regency Makkah, offering 628 guestrooms, in addition to meeting facilities, several dining venues, a Regency Club lounge, a spa and fitness center, and 24-hour in room dining.

“Over the last few years, the demand in the luxury market in Saudi Arabia has been very strong,” said Tareq Daoud, regional VP global sales-Middle East, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Southwest Asia.

“Hyatt is a very deep-rooted brand within the Saudi culture as we served the market for 23 years between Jeddah and Riyadh until 2003,” he said.

And, in time for summer travel, Hyatt’s four newly branded French properties are expected to be fully converted by late April of this year, drawing heavily from the Gulf States as many travelers identify France as a top summer travel destination.

Ron Cusiter, VP, sales operations for Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Southwest Asia, said: “We continue to grow in a thoughtful way, focusing on the key destinations where Hyatt guests are traveling. Paris and Cannes are France’s two most important cities for business and leisure travel, and Nice is one of the most in-demand resort areas in the world. We know Gulf travelers see France as a key destination for summer travel, and we are delighted to deliver more of our preferred hospitality to our guests from the region.” The hotels will add more than 1,700 rooms to Hyatt’s existing hotel portfolio in France.