JEDDAH: Marriott International has been named to operate three hotels in Makkah under a long-term agreement announced with Jabal Omar Development Company. Scheduled to open in two phases beginning in 2014, the hotels are the 636-room luxury JW Marriott Hotel Makkah; 540-room deluxe Makkah Marriott Hotel; and the 432-room upper-moderately-priced Courtyard by Marriott Makkah. Located directly on the Haram overlooking the Grand Mosque's plaza in central Makkah, the Makkah Marriott hotel will open in Phase 1, followed by the JW Marriott- and Courtyard-branded properties approximately a year later. When completed, the three hotels will be part of an impressive multi-use development that will also include high-quality residential villas, retail services and other accommodations. "We are honored to participate in this exceptional development that is historic in its magnitude in Islam's holiest city with three of our most highly regarded and iconic lodging brands," said Ed Fuller, president & managing director of international lodging for Marriott. "These hotels will provide worshippers and visitors to Makkah with an array of outstanding accommodations and services at a range of price points to fit virtually any travel requirement. Joining Marriott International's luxury collection of the most distinctive and elegant hotels bearing the Marriott name, the JW Marriott Hotel Makkah will offer unique environments, spacious guest rooms with luxurious amenities, imaginative dining experiences and an overall heightened level of sophistication without pretense. Its choice of guest rooms will include a number of duplex suites, more than 200 junior suites and more than 400 standard king and double accommodations. All will feature contemporary, stylish furnishings and amenities, state-of-the-art connectivity, flat-screen, high definition television, in-room safes and luxurious baths. Approximately 50 per cent of the guest rooms will connect with others to accommodate larger families. For dining, the hotel will offer five distinctive restaurants and lounges ranging in ambience from casual to specialty. Other hotel amenities will include a full-service business center, 24-hour room service and a gift shop.
