The Booming Economy in Saudi Arabia Fuels the Corporate Accommodation Industry
With a growing population at staggering rates of approximately 1.5% yearly and the second largest oil reserve in the world, the economy in Saudi Arabia is booming. The country is rapidly evolving into a modern nation in all directions: health, society, science and economy. The mutations need outlets and platforms to make themselves known and make a change at a national level. Unsurprisingly, over the past few years, the conference, seminar and workshop landscape in Saudi Arabia grew significantly. The sheer number of world conferences held in various locations and cities across Saudi Arabia generates dramatic profits for hotels and restaurants all over the country. Cities like Riyadh, Madinah or Makkah are expected to crowd with figures in various industries during 2019, just like they have been over the past few years.
Image/CIA
In this context, the accommodation industry is experiencing a sensitive growth. The modern businessman and scientist are seeking comfort when travelling and unsurprisingly, the cultural print in the area is able to deliver unexpected levels of hospitality, luxury and services taken up a notch by additional services. The Saudi Arabia accommodation industry excels on numerous levels. This is an intrinsic demand in the current context when world-leaders gather yearly in different cities across the country.
Top World Conferences Across Saudi Arabia in 2019
Riyadh, Madinah or Makkah are the top conference destination in 2019, in Saudi Arabia. The conferences cover various industries and topics. Conference tourism is expected to grow at a fast pace during those events. Some of the most prolific seminars and workshops that will take place in Saudi Arabia throughout 2019 are focused on Science, Engineering, Technology, Medicine and Bioscience, Management, Economics and Social Science.
- The 584th International Conference on Science, Health and Medicine ICSHM is scheduled for May 13th in Riyadh. The prestigious event is the perfect outlet for global academic figures, researchers, engineers, industry experts and students in the field to share the latest research findings in the medical and health industry in the context of a wider adoption of the latest technologies. Artificial Intelligence, sensors and health tracking devices, as well as practical applications of VR in the health and medical field, will take a special place in the Conference.
- Madinah will host the 519th International Conference on Psychology, Language and Teaching ICPLT Conference at the middle of March. In the context of a social modernization and fundamental changes at a collective mentality level, it’s important to approach such matters in a researched and informed fashion. The Conference will approach some of the most prolific changes in Psychology, Language and Teaching. In a proper environment, scientists and researchers in the field will have the opportunity to change ideas and promote collaboration between experts in the mentioned fields toward a common goal.
- The 560th International Conference on Power Control and Embedded System ICPCES will take place between March 15th and 16th in Makkah. Besides being a preeminent pilgrimage destination, Makkah will host a tech conference focused on embedded systems and power control. The event will foster discussions and debates between researchers, engineers and industry experts from countries all over the world.
How Do Saudi Arabian Hotels Respond to the Growing Number of High-End Tourists?
The Middle Eastern hospitality industry is booming. A BMI research recently showed that the countries in the area plan to grow their tourism revenue by 51% over the following couple of years, aiming to accommodate 25 million visitors by the end of 2020.
Saudi Arabia is no exception, given the extraordinary number of high-end tourists that are expected to put their feet on Arabic soil in 2019, thanks to a staggering number of world conferences and seminars. The economic diversification and the context exposed above have made out of Saudi Arabia the country in the region with the highest number of hotel guestrooms booked and under construction. Makkah and Madinah are growing in appeal due to a series of economic and social variables, but also due to a series of laws that are due to relaxing the leisure travel packages and conditions in the area.
But, in the seminar and conference context, the hotels in the area respond by offering a little extra to their high-end visitors.
An intricate fusion of tradition and sophistication, the warmth of the Eastern hospitality and a little extra, all the way. Luxury hotels in Madinah and Makkah excel at offering the little perks that their smaller cousins in the hospitality industry lack: airport arrival service, private parking, business services, 24-hour in-room dining and concierge service. All these, add to the luxury and comfort of their visitors.
Conference attendants need a proper living environment and the comfort of a beautifully-designed room. The luxury hotels in the area look forward to impressing their guests with fusion cuisine in their own restaurants. Novel dining concepts, fusion cuisine and a surprising mix of traditional and modern courses with a personal touch, contribute to local hotels’ competitiveness level. Most accommodation facilities of this kind pride themselves on offering breath-taking views over the city and a tranquility suitable for the average conference and seminar attendant.
Best Practices in the Saudi Arabian Hospitality Industry
While the vast majority of accommodation facilities in Makkah, Madinah and Riyadh are three stars and above, there can be outlined certain examples of best practices in the accommodation industry.
Shaza Luxury Resorts & Hotels set the standard high for other players in the sector. Supplying upscale rooms with tailored and personalized services for each guest, the player aims to surprise the audience by expanding their luxury hotel portfolio to 20 hotels by 2020.
Hilton Hotels also have expansion plans for Saudi Arabia in the near future, but the competition is acerb. Marriot Hotels already have a series of construction projects lined up for the future.
While the hospitality landscape in Saudi Arabia is diverse enough to offer accommodation options to all types of tourists, the luxury hotel landscape is more diverse and competitive than ever before, one of the main reasons being the booming world conference scene in Saudi Arabia.
Author: Bogdan Butoi
