The STA Podcast ft Sandeep Walia

“Saudi Arabia is one of the stories of the century; you either believe it or you miss out,” says COO, Middle East & Luxury, EMEA, Marriott International

In the debut episode of The Saudi Tourism Authority Podcast, produced by Connecting Travel, industry powerhouse Sandeep Walia, COO, Middle East & Luxury, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International, said: “Saudi Arabia is one of the stories of the century; you either believe it or you miss out.” 

As a global leader in the luxury travel market, Walia appreciates the vast potential of investing in Saudi Arabia.

Marriott recently launched the first resorts to open in Saudi's ultra-luxury Red Sea resort. The St. Regis Red Sea Resort and Nujuma, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve preside over the world’s fourth-largest barrier reef system, spanning 28,000 square kilometres. 

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"The St. Regis Red Sea Resort opening came with its own pressure points in terms of being the first resort to open in the Red Sea. But it's been a fabulous opening, and it's a beautiful, stunning resort; an island we are very proud of. 

"Essentially there are two islands. One is St Regis, and right next to that, about 10 minutes by our yacht, is the Ritz-Carlton Reserve. And that's very exciting, because it's the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Middle East. In fact, it's the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Europe, Middle East and Africa."

With a total of 39 open hotels and 46 projects in the pipeline across all of Saudi Arabia, Marriott is set to double its portfolio in the country with the ultimate goal to open more than 100 hotels.

Find out more about Marriott's expansion strategy in Saudi, as well as its staff training programmes introducing the first generation of Saudi women to the international travel and tourism sector, by tuning into the STA Podcast, wherever you get your podcasts, today.

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For more on Saudi Arabia, visit www.sta.gov.sa. For more on Marriott’s expansion in Saudi, visit www.marriott.com. For more STA Podcasts, visit www.connectingtravel.com