Riyadh – Mubasher: InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), in collaboration with Maad International, will open the world’s largest voco hotel in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Trade Arabia reported.

The new property will cater to the growing number of religious tourists in the kingdom.

“This signing is aligned with our commitment to developing extraordinary properties serving religious tourists and guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Maad Hospitality Towers is destined to be one of the most prominent locations for pilgrims and we are confident that voco Makkah will be a popular choice given its compelling brand promise and strategic location,” Mohammed Al-Jared, CEO of Maad International, commented.

voco Makkah will comprise 4,200 rooms, raising IHG’s portfolio in Saudi Arabia to more than 19,500 rooms.

It will occupy a premium location within the greater Maad Hospitality Towers Development, a mega mixed-use development that includes restaurants, lounge areas, event halls and separate male and female prayer halls.

The hotel is within walking distance of Masjid Al Haram, and it will provide an ideal base for pilgrims along with an exceptional guest experience including over 20,000 square metres of dining and meeting facilities.

“Religious tourism is expected to increase further year on year to gradually reach 30 million visitors by 2030. We look forward to catering to the influx of pilgrims at voco Makkah, which will provide a welcoming, comfortable and reliably different experience during the Hajj and Umrah seasons,” Pascal Gauvin, managing director of IHG in India, Middle East, and Africa, said.

It is worth noting that IHG is currently operating 92 hotels across seven brands in the Middle East, including InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, voco, and Six Senses.

It plans to open up to 38 properties within the next three to five years.

voco, which was launched in 2018, is IHG’s new distinctive lifestyle hotel brand, and it is operating in the UK, Australia, and the UAE.