The Elaf Group of Companies, a pioneering organization in the Saudi Arabian travel, tourism and hotel industry, was awarded at the recently held Saudi Travel and Tourism Investment Market in Riyadh. Organized by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, the event was opened by Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz, deputy governor of Riyadh and was held under the theme “Tourism for All - A Partnership for Sustainable Development.” Elaf showcased its hospitality and tourism products and services during the travel and tourism fair. During the event, Prince Sattam presented the company with a recognition trophy, received by Ziad Bin Mahfouz, the group's president, which affirms Elaf's important role in the Kingdom's rapidly developing tourism industry. Reaffirming the company's support to Saudi's tourism development, Bin Mahfouz said “the Elaf Group remains steadfast in its support towards undertakings created to further bolster the tourism sector and to consistently offer services and products of the highest quality.” The Elaf Group's specially designed booth, which garnered huge interest from the forum participants, showcased the different hotel and travel tourism services that the company provides, alongside the different travel packages that it is currently offering for the coming Haj and Umrah for the year 1430. “The forum proved to be an excellent and timely venue for travel and tourism based groups to meet and discuss important topics that seek to improve the Kingdom's tourism industry. Efforts like this assure the sustained development of the industry and highlight its role as an important source of revenue for the Kingdom. It has also given us the opportunity to showcase Elaf's diverse products and services, proving our leadership and favorable status in the Arab tourism and hospitality sector,” Bin Mafouz added. Elaf Group of Companies is a fully integrated organization providing a complete line of hotel, travel, tourism, Haj and Umrah services. The group, which has been consistently named as one of the top 100 corporations in the Kingdom, intends to significantly increase the number of Haj and Umrah pilgrims within the next three years. Elaf Hotels manages 1,400 rooms serving the Makkah, Madina and Jeddah areas. Four new hotels with 1,000 rooms are joining the Group in 2009, with four major hospitality developments featuring 4,800 rooms expected to open in 2012.
