Hotel 101 Global has entered into a joint venture partnership agreement with Horizon Group, naming Horizon as the lead partner for Hotel 101’s expansion into Saudi Arabia.
The agreement outlines a plan to develop up to 10,000 hotel rooms across the country, with an estimated project value of US$2.5 billion. Initial sites have been identified in Medina, Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha and AlUla, with Medina expected to be the first location.
Hotel 101, a brand known for its globally standardised one-room model, aims to offer uniform rooms worldwide. The company positions this standardisation as a way to improve operational efficiency and deliver a consistent experience to travellers, particularly in the value segment. Its asset-light condotel model is structured to scale quickly, allowing for both investor ownership and hotel guest use.
The partnership will combine Hotel 101’s standardised HappyRoom format and condotel funding system with Horizon’s local market knowledge and regional network. Hotel 101 has cited Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 as a strategic driver for the expansion and plans to offer properties averaging 500 rooms each to meet anticipated growth in tourism demand.
Hotel 101 global founder Edgar “Injap” Sia II said: “We are inspired by the leaders of Saudi Arabia and their sheer determination and will power to make things happen, as such, we are confident in the plans they have laid out for the region and we believe the Hotel 101 concept will be able to make a significant contribution in terms of room keys to complement the 2030 Vision for the Kingdom, and to form part of our global vision of one million Hotel 101 rooms worldwide.”
“With Hotel 101’s rapid-build model and Horizon’s local know-how, we will add 10,000 quality, affordable rooms across the Kingdom – supporting Vision 2030, creating Saudi jobs, and expanding options for pilgrims, tourists, and business travellers alike,” added Horizon Group CEO Abdulrahman Sharbatly.
