JEDDAH: A major European luxury hotel group has announced its decision to move away from running properties they own and start managing them in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Gulf with long-term investment plans.
The Oetker Hotel Collection, as the group calls itself, is a “high-end” boutique European hotel and is now offering its management expertise to operate properties in this part of the world, Frank Marrenbach, CEO of Oetker Hotel Management Company based in Baden Baden, Germany, told a press conference at the Jeddah Hilton on Wednesday. “We will be looking at properties in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and other parts of the Kingdom among our long-term management projects,” said Marrenbach, who headed a group delegation. It marks its entry into the Gulf with a 250-room hotel in Abu Dhabi.
The group’s road show held in the city also included negotiations on strategic alliances with local partners to expand the group’s portfolio in the region.
“As part of our development plan, we are happy to be in Saudi Arabia to officially announce our launch in the region. We offer luxury, elegance, exclusivity and style and we are happy to bring the distinct European hotel charm to this wonderful region. Our hotels are real masterpieces, driven by passion and run by hearts and we offer our guests a real environment of art and authenticity,” Marrenbach added.