JEDDAH, 16 October 2004 — Plans were unveiled on Thursday for training 400 young Saudis and graduates for various positions in a huge hotel project coming up close to the Grand Mosque in Makkah. They constitute a third of the staff that French hotel group Accor, one of the largest international hotel chains, is recruiting for the project.
“This is the main priority for the Kingdom and Accor Saudi Arabia is fully committed to help train young Saudis,” Dr. Abderahman Belgat, director general for Saudi Arabia and general manager of the Saudi French Company for Hotel Management, said at a press conference at Accor’s headquarters.
The key to success of Saudization in the tourism industry is through proper management of human resources and Accor Group is determined to share its expertise in this industry, he said, adding that this is the main objective of the group in the Kingdom that complies with its short, medium and long-term vision.
This also follows the impetus given to foster domestic tourism by the Saudi Supreme Commission of Tourism headed by Prince Sultan ibn Salman. “It’s imperative to understand that tourism in the Kingdom is not limited to only religious tourism. It represents a huge potential with its multidimensional diversity that encompasses cultural, ecological, archeological and resort facilities, aside from desert attractions. The Kingdom has a lot of unexploited tourist resources that are rich and diversified. These include archeological sites like Al Jawf, deserts like Rub Al Khali or the Empty Quarter, long coastline and beaches, urban tourism, mountainous resorts and natural parks.
He said Accor had won the management contract for a 1,240-room residence and hotel in Makkah, after a bidding process. The residential suites include 930 studios, 62 junior suites, 31 large suites, 97 Ameer suites and 120 royal suites. A contract between Kuwait-based real estate developers, Munshaat Real Estate and the Accor Group was signed at Sofitel City Center Hotel in Dubai on Oct. 6.
The five-star hotel with a large convention hall is part of the 34-story Zamzam Tower that is being built over an area of about 92,000 sq. meters, about 100 meters away from the Kaaba. The residence is under construction and will open by about mid-2006. “It will most likely have a Sofitel branding — the five-star luxury brand of Accor.
