THE Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh, the first Ritz-Carlton to open in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in October 2011, has fared extremely well in the market with very competitive prices and the highest average rate within the market, said Jean-Francois Laurent, general manager of the luxurious new hotel.

The 493-room Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh, is prominently situated within the Diplomatic Quarter and is next to the King Abdul Aziz Conference Centre, one of the largest in the region and host to international summits and conferences. The hotel’s palatial interior, architectural design and landscaping together with the uncompromising legendary service and signature attention to detail provided by their ladies and gentlemen has made it unique and created a marriage of style and sense of place within the Middle East.

“Business has been good too,” said Laurent. “Our occupancy is growing rapidly and we are establishing a very good base and market share specially that we are hosting most of the top VIP events, delegates and summits in the Riyadh. We have done extremely well from the start due to The Ritz-Carlton brand recognition, our location in the diplomatic area, the beauty of the Hotel and definitely, the market wants to try something new.”

“The majority of our business has been through sectors including government, corporate and domestic leisure as Riyadh has a huge potential in terms of business and government sectors and we are offering many significant advantages to visiting guests and dignitaries,” he added.

Looking ahead at the summer months, Laurent said, “Usually summer is a slow season in Riyadh; however, we are developing a distinctive summer and weekend offers for Riyadh residents and all other regions of Saudi Arabia where they can enjoy the exceptional service of The Ritz-Carlton as well as all the amazing facilities of our place.”

The hotel recently opened The Ritz-Carlton Spa, an exclusive facility for men. The Ritz-Carlton Spa features three treatment rooms and health club with a spa menu that offers revival retreat.

The hotel also  offers a selection of gourmet dining venues, including Hong, an inspiring contemporary Chinese restaurant, Azzurro Italian restaurant that serves authentic cuisine from the old country and Turquoise, a cigar lounge that is home to one of the widest selection of Cuban cigars in Saudi Arabia. 

“We are extremely pleased that The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh, represents our first hotel in Saudi Arabia and it is a wonderful opportunity as it is a safe and potential market our aim is to redefine luxury in the Saudi market and to present the standards of The Ritz.

This year, the hotel is looking to develop a distinctive business packages that allows all businessmen to experience the stylish Ritz-Carlton service where all their expectations are exceeded. The hotel has also introduced The Club Lounge, a unique retreat for business and leisure travellers in Riyadh.