Recently, BWH Hotels, the global hospitality network comprised of three hotel brands including WorldHotels, Best Western Hotels & Resorts and Sure Stay Hotels, showcased its substantial Middle East growth and commitment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 tourism plan with landmark hotel signings and participation in the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) 2025 held in Riyadh. With a rapidly expanding presence in the region, BWH Hotels continues to drive investment in elevated and welcoming hospitality experiences across the luxury, upscale, and midscale segments.
Ron Pohl, President of International Operations for BWH Hotels and President of WorldHotels, headlined the TenX Leadership Talk with moderator and former BBC journalist Jessy El Murr. During the discussion, Ron Pohl shared insights on the critical role mid-scale and upscale hotels play in diversifying travel across the region, the importance of flexible brand architecture and industry trends surrounding technology and sustainability.
“The Middle East, and Saudi Arabia in particular, is a high-priority growth region for BWH Hotels. With Vision 2030 driving transformational investments in tourism, we see a significant opportunity to align with the Kingdom’s goals,” said Ron Pohl. “With 19 hotels in the Middle East and 22 currently in the pipeline, we are embedding ourselves in the region’s bright future.”
Expansion Announcements
As BWH Hotels moves closer to its goal of reaching 70 properties in the Middle East by 2027, it marked a significant milestone at FHS by signing eight new additions:
- WorldHotels King Road, Jeddah
- Executive Residency by Best Western, The Breeze Hotel, Al Khobar
- Best Western Premier, Riyadh
- Best Western Premier Madinah Hotel, Madinah
- Best Western Centria Hotel, Riyadh
- SureStay Plus by Best Western Madinah Hotel, Madinah
- SureStay Studio by Best Western Acacia Hotel, Jeddah
- SureStay Studio by Best Western Sweet Home Hotel, Jeddah
These landmark hotels join the fast-growing BWH Hotels portfolio in the region, which also includes the luxurious WorldHotels Crafted Sunflower Resort, AlUla; the contemporary Aiden Shades Hotel, Jeddah; the Best Western Plus Hotel, Makkah (opening Summer 2025); and the Executive Residency Al by Best Western Shafa Hotel, Jeddah (opening Spring 2025).
About BWH Hotels
BWH Hotels is a leading global hospitality enterprise encompassing three hotel companies: WorldHotels, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, and SureStay Hotels. With approximately 4,300 hotels across more than 100 countries and territories, BWH Hotels offers 18 distinct brands that cater to every market segment, from economy to luxury. Each BWH Hotels property is independently owned and operated.
About WorldHotels
WorldHotels is a privately held hotel soft brand within the BWH Hotels global enterprise. Founded by independent hoteliers dedicated to the art of hospitality, WorldHotels offers one of the finest portfolios of independent hotels and resorts around the globe, expertly curated to inspire unique, life enriching experiences that connect people and places. WorldHotels is comprised of four unique collections, each with its own personality and style to appeal to the needs of today’s traveler. The collections include: WorldHotels Luxury, WorldHotels Elite, WorldHotels Crafted and WorldHotels Distinctive. For more information visit WorldHotels.com.
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