Radisson Hotel Group announces ambitious expansion plans for Middle East region

Radisson Hotel Group has said it will continue to focus on its expansion in the Middle East region, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE remaining its core markets. The group, which attended the recent Future Hospitality Summit, announced ambitious plans to sign at least five hotels and open more than 1,000 keys in the next 12 months.

In the UAE, Radisson Hotel Group is set to open the highly-anticipated resort Radisson Beach Resort Palm Jumeirah this year, following the successful opening of Radisson Resort Ras Al Khaimah on Marjan Island, earlier this year as the first Radisson Resort in the Middle East. As part of the group’s aim to strengthen its resort portfolio, the property will also open its doors at West Beach, Palm Jumeirah.

The most recent opening of Radisson Hotel Riyadh Airport marked the group’s first Radisson branded property in Riyadh. June saw the opening of Mansard Riyadh, A Radisson Collection Hotel, which is the luxury lifestyle brand’s second hotel in the city.

With a strong pipeline in place, the group now has over 25 hotels and serviced apartments in operation and under development in the kingdom, including the upcoming openings of Radisson Blu Hotel, Riyadh Convention and Exhibition Center, and Park Inn by Radisson hotels in Makkah’s Thakher City Development.

Elie Milky, VP of development for the Middle East, Pakistan, Cyprus and Greece, Radisson Hotel Group said: “This has been a fantastic year for signings and openings across the region, reiterating the aggressive growth and movement of the group, and we are on track for further developments in the months to come.

“We will be announcing more hotels with plans to open another 400 keys before the end of the year, closing the year with almost 1,000 keys signed and almost 1,500 keys opened across the GCC and Levant sub-regions. We also look forward to capitalising on our expanding development team across the Middle East and to the opening of our office in Riyadh, reaffirming our strategic shift on the kingdom.”

In Jordan, Radisson Hotel Group announced the signing of Radisson Blu Hotel, Amman Galleria Mall earlier this year, marking the group’s entry into another major capital city in the Middle East. With construction already underway, the hotel is scheduled to open by the summer of 2023.

Additionally, the hospitality group has announced its second brand in Kuwait with the signing of a Park Inn by Radisson Kuwait Hotel Apartments, offering both hotel rooms and serviced apartments. The newly built property is scheduled to open at the end of 2023 and will consist of 250 keys.

The recent signing of the 108-key Park Inn by Radisson Muscat Airport will strengthen its presence in Oman.

“After two record years in terms of signings, the Middle East remains also this year and in the coming years a key focus for us. We remain committed to unlocking its potential with a solid and immediate pipeline to double our hotels in this area by 2026, including key signings and openings across Saudi Arabia and UAE, with recent additions in Jordan, Oman and Kuwait. We would like to thank our business partners for their trust in our brands and teams as we look forward to continuing our exciting and rewarding journey,” said Elie Younes, EVP and global chief development officer at Radisson Hotel Group.

Radisson Hotel Group currently operates 52 properties in the Middle East with more than 11,000 keys, catering to evolving and diverse customer needs. As leisure and business travel continues to thrive in the region, the international hospitality group is working on 25 properties in the Middle East with more than 5,000 keys under development.