The new Kimpton hotel will open in the heart of KAFD, Saudi Arabia’s prime business and lifestyle destination, in Riyadh. The property is expected to open in June 2024.
A milestone signing
IHG has signed a management agreement with The King Abdullah Financial District Management and Development Company (KAFD DMC), which is a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), to open Kimpton Riyadh.
Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, IHG Hotels & Resorts India, Middle East and Africa, said: “We remain committed to supporting the tourism goals of Vision 2030 across Saudi Arabia, and catering to the demands of the growing numbers of visitors to the Kingdom. We have identified a trend towards blended travel, with those travelling for work or business also seeking a lifestyle element to their stay.”
“As we debut Kimpton Hotels in the region, we are confident that this luxury lifestyle offering can meet that requirement and we are looking forward to expanding further into the region in the coming years.”
Gautam Sashittal, Chief Executive Officer at KAFD DMC, commented: “Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries in the world that saw a rise in tourism investment and expenditure during the Covid-19 pandemic with domestic tourism increasing by 33.6% and over SAR80 billion spent by tourists. Now, as the Kingdom cements its presence on the world stage as a business and leisure destination, these numbers will be dwarfed.”
“We are delighted to partner with a trusted management company in IHG, who will enable us to partner traditional Saudi hospitality with expertise in hotel management, as we look to make KAFD an essential part of the business landscape of the Kingdom. Kimpton Riyadh at KAFD will enable us to welcome diverse visitors for work, leisure or both.”
A new lifestyle hub
The 212-key new-build property will cater for both business and leisure travellers. The lifestyle destination it’s a part of, KAFD, caters to the country’s growing demand for luxury experiences aimed at both leisure and business travellers with its entertainment and retail offering, commercial office space and hospitality options.
KAFD is located at the heart of the country’s capital, Riyadh, and just 22 kilometres from the airport. The destination, which is owned and managed by KAFD DMC, is the largest LEED certified mixed-use financial district in the world and one that’s home to 1.6 million sq m of office space alongside world-class venues and luxury residences.
As well as making the most of this district’s lifestyle offering, guests will be able to enjoy an extensive range of facilities at the hotel. The property will have five dining and drinking options including an all-day dining restaurant, specialty restaurant, lobby lounge, lobby living room café and pool bar with mezzanine seating.
Additional facilities at Kimpton Riyadh will include an outdoor amphitheatre terrace, health club and outdoor swimming pool. The property aims to cater to corporate executives and high-net-worth Saudi Arabian families looking for a luxury lifestyle hotel.
