Hospitality group Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, Middle East and Africa (MEA) has signed four hotels in Saudi Arabia with Taiba Holding Company (Taiba).

With up to 20 high profile properties set to open across Saudi Arabia over the next five years, the agreement is part of the group’s strategic expansion plan with over 10,000 keys in the pipeline.

Millennium & Copthorne’s rapid expansion will begin with the takeover of two existing operations in the Holy City of Madinah. The 208-key Millennium Taiba Hotel Madinah and 484-key Millennium Al Aqeeq Hotel Madinah are both conveniently located close to the Prophet’s Mosque and will serve the rapidly growing religious tourism market. A further property, the 299-key Grand Millennium Hotel Madinah is set to open in 2018 and will be situated in a prime location on King Faisal Road, walking distance from the Holy Haram.

In addition, the group will be bringing the iconic Biltmore brand to Riyadh in 2018. Reimagined and reinvented for the 21st century, the opening will follow the launch of the Biltmore Bateen Marina Abu Dhabi, the first outside of Los Angeles, California (US) and due to open in 2017.

Drawing on the timeless elegance and glamour of the original Biltmore, the 265-key hotel will offer unparalleled luxury and opulence alongside high-quality amenities that are set to appeal to the market.

Ali Hamad Lakhraim Alzaabi, president and CEO Millennium & Copthorne MEA, said; “We are delighted to enter into a partnership with Taiba Holding Company. We believe in working with strong developers and in Taiba we have one of the most recognised and respected corporations in the region. This agreement is just the start of an extensive expansion within the kingdom and across our entire brand portfolio, which covers not only the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah but also extends across the kingdom into locations in the North, South and Western Provinces.”

Adel Mohammed Saad Al Zaid, managing director and CEO, Taiba Holding Company, said: “We are pleased to enter into an agreement for these four hotel projects with a global hotel operator such as Millennium & Copthorne. With international expertise and a sound understanding of the local market, we believe that Millennium & Copthorne will ensure the success of our properties in the Holy City of Madinah and in Riyadh. We look forward to a long term and fruitful relationship.” – TradeArabia News Service