SWISSÔTEL TO OPEN FIRST HOTEL IN THE MIDDLE EAST IN MAKKAH

SINGAPORE, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts is venturing into
the Middle East by building the first hotel in the region, the Swissôtel Makkah
in Saudi Arabia.

In a statement, the international hotel chain said the Makkah hotel was
expected to open in January 2011.

The new hotel will have 1,571 rooms, including 88 suites, spread over 53
floors, with half of all the rooms and suites enjoying a view of the Holy
Mosque.

The centrally-located hotel will have four restaurants serving Arabic and
European cuisine, an executive lounge, meeting rooms and a business centre.

"Since we are at home in so many parts of the world, we are especially
pleased that we will now be represented in the Middle East as well," Swissôtel
Hotels & Resorts president Meinhard Huck said.

He said the hotel chain would definitely look into further opportunities for
expanding its business in this market in the future.

The new deluxe hotel in the holy city is part of the Abraj Al Bait Complex
developed by Saudi Binladin Group (SBG) in the Development of King Abdul Aziz
Endowment Project.

The SBG is a multinational construction conglomerate and holding company for
the assets owned by the Binladin family, founded in 1950 and headquartered in
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

–- BERNAMA