Spain-based Paradores de Tourismo SA has been offered to assist in turning historic buildings into luxury hotels in Saudi Arabia. This decision has been made by Prince Sultan Bin Abd-al-Aziz-al-Saud who is currently the chairman of the Saudi Arabia Commission for Tourism and Antiques.
The choice has been made in favor of Paradores because the government of this Middle East country has plans to launch a company that will operate hotels in a similar way to this Spanish firm. Paradores will help to turn historical buildings to hotels, plan restorations, teach employees and train the company’s management. All services cover assistance only as Paradores will not brand the new properties and will not manage them once the hotels are opened. The sum of the agreement is not disclosed, but journalists name US $2 million annually for the Spanish company.
Consultancy business is new to Paradores and has been started by the company’s president Miguel Martinez in order to collaborate with the government of Saudi Arabia. Currently Paradores manages around 90 hotels in Spain, vast majority of which are old historical buildings turned into hotels by the company, so Paradores has large experience in this field. Even though Paradores operates as a separate company, it is owned by the Spain government.
In future Paradores hopes to conclude the same agreement with Oman.