Wyndham Hotels Regional President Says ‘Home of Life’ Comes to Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: HQ, the new hospitality brand launched by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and prominent hotelier Sam Nazarian, is scheduled to arrive in Saudi Arabia by the end of 2025, Arab News reported.
Dimitris Manikis, president of the hospitality group Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa, announces the company’s ambitious plans for Saudi Arabia, including the launch of its headquarters, at the Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh did.
Mr. Manikis shared insights with Arab News about Wyndham’s steadfast commitment to Saudi Arabia’s thriving hospitality environment, saying, “We are very serious and very bullish about our presence in Saudi Arabia.”
He further added: “We are very excited to bring this new brand to Saudi Arabia because it is about smart luxury. It is about F&B (food and drink), entertainment, music and it is also about smart hospitality. There is also.”
Manikis continued: “Within the next 18 months, we will have our first headquarters brand in Saudi Arabia.”
Mr. Manikis cited Nazarian’s track record of success with brands such as Mondrian, Delano and SLS. “Sam is notorious for bringing new concepts and ideas to the table. So when I asked him, ‘What exactly is HQ? Why do we call it Brand HQ?’ . “We want your brand to be the headquarters of your life.”
The President added: “I have no doubt that HQ will be a great brand that will grow in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), especially in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Manikis reflected on Wyndham’s impressive track record across the Kingdom, including a strong pipeline of 20 upcoming projects. Notable among these ventures is the impending opening of the Ramada Hotel.
Additionally, the introduction of Wyndham Garden last year marked a significant milestone in the company’s strategic expansion efforts.
Mr. Manikis’ optimism over Saudi Arabia’s tourism prospects was evident in his remarks, citing the kingdom’s impressive achievement in surpassing the Vision 2030 tourism goal of 100 million visitors in 2023.
“The bar went to 150 million tourists,” he said, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s accelerated progress towards becoming a global tourism destination.
However, he cautioned against ignoring the important role of infrastructure development in sustaining this growth momentum.
“Infrastructure, planes, airports, railways, roads, highways,” Manikis said, stressing the need for robust infrastructure to accommodate the influx of tourists.
He praised the government’s proactive measures, including launching new airlines and expanding airports, and expressed confidence in Saudi Arabia’s readiness to meet growing demand.
“I believe that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will actually fulfill its promises. And they are going to have a great Expo (2030). I don’t think there is any doubt about that,” he said.
As expectations rise for major events such as Expo 2034 and the FIFA World Cup, Manikis emphasized the importance of post-event planning.
“It’s not just the event that matters, it’s what you do after the event,” he cautioned, advocating sustainable strategies that effectively utilize event infrastructure beyond the festival.
In addition to the HQ brand, Wyndham is poised to capitalize on the fast-growing extended stay segment.
“We are very bullish on long-term stays,” Manikis said, recognizing the potential to serve a diverse clientele including families, business travelers and digital nomads.
He added: “We have added 11 beautiful luxury extended stay products, and hopefully we will continue to expand the extended stay concept here in Saudi Arabia as well.”
