2 New Accor hotels to open in Saudi...

Ennismore’s SLS Red Sea and Raffles Jeddah among 46 properties being launched by the group this year

Accor has entered 2025 with a pipeline of new hotels and resorts set to open this year.

With the largest brand portfolio in the hotel industry, home to more than 45 hospitality brands ranging from luxury to economy, the hospitality group is set to open 46 new properties in 2025, from seaside wellness retreats to stylish city hotspots

Included in the list are two properties located in Saudi Arabia, both slated to debut mid-2025.

Opening in a central location overlooking the Jeddah Corniche and Red Sea, Raffles Jeddah marks the second branded launch for Raffles Hotels & Resorts in the kingdom and the fifth in the GCC. With a design that reflects Saudi culture, art and craftsmanship, the hotel features 142 rooms and 40 suites, three restaurants and lounges, and a spa.

SLS Red Sea will bring Ennismore’s SLS brand’s theatrical interiors to the kingdom for the first time. Part of The Red Sea Project, the property will offer 150 rooms and suites, including pool villas, alongside a variety of dining destinations, an extensive spa, a fitness centre and pool.

SLS Red Sea

Already the largest hotel operator in Saudi, with 13 brands and 45 hotels spanning the luxury, premium, midscale and economy segments, Accor’s plans in the kingdom are ambitious.

Speaking exclusively with Connecting Travel, Paul Stevens, Accor COO, Middle East, Africa & Türkiye for the Premium, Midscale & Economy division, said there are plans to open more than 40 properties by the end of 2028.

“We plan to double the number of hotels in Saudi Arabia in the next four years,” he said during a podcast interview. “We’re focusing not just on bigger projects in Riyadh and Jeddah, but on other locations too.”

With a historical foothold that’s 30 years in the making, Accor’s alignment with the kingdom’s 2030 Vision is a significant driver in its development strategy, which stretches beyond its leading cities and into second-tier and exciting new destinations, from Red Sea to AlUla and Neom.

Opening by 2027, Raffles and 25Hours Hotels will be located in Neom’s Trojena mountains, while luxury brand Faena and Fairmont will launch at The Red Sea. The former will be located on Shura Island, the latter will feature an 18-hole championship golf course.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, Accor will open properties in Egypt and Qatar in early-to-mid-2025. Rixos Radamis Sharm El Sheikh is a beachside lifestyle destination with an extensive family-friendly offering, including a sports cafe, kids’ club and games’ rooms.

Meanwhile, in Qatar, Swissôtel Doha Corniche Park Towers, in the vibrant West Bay district, offers 200 rooms with views of the Arabian Gulf and the city’s historic quarter. Amenities include six dining venues, a spa, fitness and health facilities, swimming pool, and a kids’ club.

From Albania to Australia, Italy to Thailand, Accor will debut dozens of properties in 2025 globally across leading brands including ibis, Novotel, Adagio, Mercure, Movenpick, Swissotel, Pullman, Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel and Banyan Tree. Highlights include Rome’s Orient Express La Minerva, set to open its stylish doors in Rome and Hotel MontAzure Lakeside Phuket – MGallery Collection in Thailand.

For more information, visit www.group.accor.com

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