Al-Marwa Rayhaan by Rotana won Makkah’s Leading Hotel accolade at the Middle East World Travel Awards (WTA) held in Dubai on Tuesday night.

The award came as recognition for the hotel’s exceptional performance and services over the 12 months preceding the award.

“We are both thrilled and deeply honored to have been named Makkah’s Leading Hotel by the travel industry’s most prestigious trade organization for the second time in a row,” said Mohamad Haj Hassan, area VP of Rotana in KSA, Sudan, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Bahrain.

“I would like to thank all the pilgrims and travelers who have visited the hotel and voted. I also thank the hotel’s hard-working colleagues for making Al Marwa by Rotana the hotel of choice for pilgrims traveling to Makkah. I can guarantee you that everyone at Al-Marwa Rayhaan will continue to work hard to maintain the high standards that have resulted in this award.”

Al-Marwa Rayhaan by Rotana, a competitively priced hotel that offers views of the holy mosque and the Kaaba, claims to occupy a prominent status in the Kingdom’s booming Haj and Umrah sector.

Guests can choose from among more than 483 newly renovated, deluxe rooms and suites. They can also enjoy fine dining opportunities at its three signature restaurants, Al-Bayt, Al-Dayfa and Al-Shorfa, which offer traditional and modern cuisines.

In addition to its proximity to Makkah’s holy sites, the hotel is located in the Abraj Al-Bait project and connected to a commercial complex that houses a mosque, a multi-level shopping mall and a medical center.

The hotel enjoyed 92 percent occupancy throughout 2014, even though the number of pilgrims issued with visas was greatly reduced because of the ongoing work of renovation and Haram expansion.

Dubbed as the Oscars of the travel industry by The Wall Street Journal, the WTA honors excellence in the travel and tourism industry, both regionally and globally. The organization is recognized worldwide as a respected proponent of excellence in the industry.

Its events, especially its awards ceremonies, attract top figures from the travel and tourism industry, VIPs from all sectors and a large contingent of international media. The WTA was established in 1993.