Saudi Arabia is likely to meet tourism targets before 2030, a top official says

RIYADH: HQ, the new hospitality brand launched by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and renowned hotelier Sam Nazarian, is expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia by the end of 2025, Arab News is told.

Dimitris Manikis, president of Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa, at the hospitality group, unveiled the company’s ambitious plans for the kingdom – including the launch of its headquarters – at the Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh.

Speaking to Arab News, Manikis shared insights into Wyndham’s steadfast commitment to Saudi Arabia’s thriving hospitality landscape, saying: “We are very serious and very optimistic about our presence in the kingdom.”

He added: “We are very excited to bring this new brand to Saudi Arabia as it is about smart luxury. It is about F&B (food and drinks), entertainment, music, but also about smart hospitality.”

Manikis further said, “In the next eighteen months, you will have the first headquartered brand in Saudi Arabia.”

Citing Nazarian’s track record of success at brands such as Mondrian, Delano and SLS, Manikis said: “Sam is known for bringing new concepts and ideas to the table. So when I asked him, ‘What exactly is HQ and why would you call the brand HQ?’, he said, ‘I want the brand to be the headquarters of your life.’”

The President added: “I have no doubt whatsoever that HQ will be a great brand to grow in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), and in particular in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

Manikis reflected on Wyndham’s impressive footprint across the Kingdom, which includes a robust pipeline of twenty upcoming projects. Notable among these ventures are the upcoming openings of the Ramada hotels.

Additionally, the introduction of Wyndham Garden last year marked a significant milestone in the company’s strategic expansion efforts.

The optimism surrounding Saudi Arabia’s tourism prospects was palpable in Manikis’ comments, citing the kingdom’s remarkable achievement in surpassing Vision 2030’s tourism target of 100 million visitors by 2023.

“The bar is set at 150 million tourists,” he noted, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s accelerated progress towards becoming a global tourism destination.

However, he cautioned against neglecting the crucial role of infrastructure development in sustaining this growth momentum.

“Infrastructure, aircraft, airports, railways, roads, highways,” Manikis said, emphasizing the need for robust infrastructure to accommodate the influx of tourists.

He praised the government’s proactive measures, including the launch of a new airline and airport expansions, and expressed confidence in Saudi Arabia’s readiness to meet escalating demand.

“I truly believe that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will actually fulfill the promise. And they are going to have a great Expo (2030). I don’t think there’s any doubt about that,” he said.

As anticipation grows for major events like the Expo and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, Manikis underlined the importance of post-event planning.

“It’s not just about the event, it’s about what you do afterwards,” he warned, advocating sustainable strategies to effectively utilize event infrastructure beyond the festivities.

In addition to the HQ brand, Wyndham is poised to capitalize on the growing extended stay segment.

“We are very optimistic about longer stays,” said Manikis, recognizing the potential to cater to a diverse customer base including families, business travelers and digital nomads.

He added: “We have added 11 beautiful luxury extended stay products. And hopefully we will also expand the extended stay concept here in the Kingdom.”