DUBAI: Hotelier Hyatt has revealed plans to open two new establishments in Jaumur, a coastal destination in Saudi Arabia’s Magna region, located along the Gulf of Aqaba. According to a statement, this move marks a milestone for the firm, expanding its presence in the Kingdom and deepening its collaboration with NEOM. The two hotels, set to open in 2027, will offer 350 rooms and suites, each designed to provide distinct, high-end experiences for guests. Stephen Ansell, managing director for the Middle East and Africa at Hyatt, emphasized the importance of this development during an interview with Arab News at the Future Hospitality Summit in Dubai. He also revealed more ambitions for the firm, saying: “We aim to triple our hotel portfolio in Saudi. We are expecting to develop around 3000 rooms, (with) new opening hotels, in the future. So we have already announced some hotels, and there are plenty of other things happening in the background.” Ansell emphasized that it’s an exciting step forward as they aim to triple their hotel portfolio in Saudi Arabia, with plans to develop around 3,000 rooms nationwide. The managing director added that the hotel chain would be “meeting with developers and future potential owners,” highlighting that Hyatt’s regional expansion has been very ambitious over the last several years. The Park Hyatt Jaumur, located at the heart of the marina community, will feature 125 rooms and is set while the Andaz Jaumur Marina, will offer 225. Jaumur, envisioned as a hub for coastal luxury, offers a blend of land and sea experiences and will be home to a 300-berth marina, while visitors will also have access to a deep-sea diving research center. Ansell also emphasized that these hotels align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to attract 150 million visitors by the end of the decade. In a statement, Javier Aguila, group president for Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Hyatt, shared his enthusiasm, saying: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a key market in Hyatt’s growth strategy in the Middle East, and these upcoming properties in NEOM reflect our dedication to expanding our brand footprint.” Aguila added that the hotels will play a critical role in enhancing the region’s tourism landscape as part of NEOM’s sustainable tourism goals. In keeping with Hyatt’s commitment to innovation, Ansell told Arab News about the integration of artificial intelligence into their operations. “AI will contribute to a lot of our focus on customer service and how we operate our hotels. So I think there are going to be a lot of changes in the future and it’s something that we embrace but embrace with recognition, that this will take time as it evolves and will need to be treated very, very carefully,” he said.