The first partnership of its kind in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the Royal Commission for Alula, AccorHotels, the world's leading travel & lifestyle group continues to welcome guests to Winter at Tantora Festival.
AccorHotels’ Fairmont Makkah Clock Royal Tower is the exclusive hospitality partner for the Royal Commission of Alula, operating the Winter Camp Al Wadi. The luxury rooms, villas and facilities at the camp are designed to showcase the enchantment of Alula on an international scale.
Winter at Tantora is the first event of its kind to be held in Alula County, home to an astonishing UNESCO World Heritage Site set in the north-western part in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On show until 23rd February 2019, the festival is hosted by the residents of Alula as a celebration of local and international culture that connects the East and West while bringing to life the natural wonders of the area.
The event kicked off in late December 2018 and has since featured a series of themed weekend events including prominent acts by international artists such as Lebanese chanteuse Majida El Roumi, French violinist Renaud Capucon, Chinese pianist Lang Lang and a hologram show of Egyptian signer Um Kulthum. The event most recently witnessed the world’s most famous tenor, Andrea Bocelli followed by the launch of the inaugural Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup, the second largest horse race in the Middle East. Upcoming acts include global Platinum winning global artist, Yanni and performances by Bahrain’s Rashed Al-Majid and Iraqi artist Majed Al-Mohandes
Commenting on the unprecedented hospitality project, Alaaedin Saleh, Managing Director of the AccorHotels Makkah Complex, said, “The Winter Camp Al Wadi is aimed at bringing to life time-honoured Saudi culture against the natural backdrop of Al Ula. Through providing world-class hospitality services and luxury tented accommodation at Winter Camp Al Wadi, we are proud to have played an integral part in the success of the debut Winter at Tantora Festival.”
Mark Willis, Chief Executive Officer at AccorHotels Middle East and Africa, said: “As a prominent operator in Saudi Arabia, it gives us immense pride to be a part of the Winter at Tantora Festival. This historic event is a major step forward in drawing greater attention to the historic county of Al Ula and celebrating the Kingdom’s vast heritage and culture.”
“We are especially pleased to support this historic event as a hospitality partner while contributing to the Kingdom’s travel and tourism-related developments. As part of the long-term partnership between France and Saudi Arabia to protect, develop and promote Al-Ula’s historical and cultural sites, this event stands as a milestone in the Kingdom’s revitalized tourism calendar to create a thriving economy in line with Vision 2030. Our selection as a hospitality partner remains in-line with our commitment to provide a greater range of unique hospitality services in Saudi Arabia as it continues to strengthen its tourism industry under the Vision”, Willis concluded.
Commenting on the agreement, Abdullah AlKhelawi, Head of Economic Development forThe Royal Commission for Alula said: “The Winter at Tantora festival is a landmark event for the further development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s tourism offering. This event is a milestone and will help draw greater attention to Alula, a prominent historical site within the Kingdom. As the largest operator in Saudi Arabia, AccorHotels was the natural choice to help us in developing a competitive offering for guests from around the world.”
Managed and operated by AccorHotels, Winter Camp Al Wadi is comprised of 35 Bedouin tents – including one and two bedroom options – in addition to five presidential suites, the ‘Winter Villas’ which feature four-bedrooms each. The Winter Camp provides guests with the comfort of a hotel through dedicated guest arrival areas, 24-hour room service, butler services and spa facilities. AccorHotels is also supporting the camp through world-class dining options available for guests during Winter at Tantora.
Supporting event facilities during Winter at Tantora include a dedicated festival stage for up to 500 people in addition to pre-function rooms. Winter Camp Al Wadi provides easy access to the festival through a fully-serviced helipad.
AccorHotels has 60 hotels in operation and in the pipeline, representing close to 20,000 rooms in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. AccorHotels has a committed network (operational and pipeline) in the Middle East and Africa of over 400 hotels, representing close to 100,000 rooms across 30 countries in the region.