Iconic Riyadh Marriott Hotel Relaunches

The Pink Tarha was invited last week to the Australian Food Festival at the Marriott Hotel. Apart from the very good food, we were mesmerized with the newly-renovated hotel’s lobby. Sampaguita Pride couldn’t help but reminisce about the hotel, having seen it in its heyday as a kid and how historic it looked like before she left for the Philippines last year. Even I was really impressed by the Marriott’s renovation. From being ‘a blast from past’, Marriott has now earned its place in the present; both as an icon of the glorious days and a beacon of change. 

The Riyadh Marriott Hotel from afar

Mr. Muin Serhan, General Manager, Riyadh Marriott Hotel; Dr. Badr Al-Badr, CEO Saudi Hotels & Resorts Company; Mr. Abdullah Al-Issa, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Saudi Hotels & Resorts Company; Mr. Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Marriott International Middle East and Africa; and Mr Ibrahim Barghout, Area Vice President Middle East and Africa, Marriott International

Last March 10, Marriott International celebrated the re-launch of the Riyadh Marriott Hotel, their first property in the Middle East and Africa. Opened in 1980 (yes 1980!!! I wasn’t even born yet!), the Riyadh Marriott Hotel is an iconic landmark in Riyadh. “The Riyadh Marriott Hotel is a beacon It showcases our authenticity as a company: our roots and the strength of our partnership with Saudi Hotels and Resorts Company, the owners of the property for more than 30 years. With the refurbishment, the hotel also symbolizes and showcases our vision, as we continue to innovate and lead the future of travel,” said Mr. Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director of Marriott International Middle East and Africa. 

Marriott International and Saudi Hotels and Resorts Company held a media conference last night in Riyadh to re-launch the hotel following a multi-million refurbishment.

The refurbished five-star property now features Marriot Hotels’ signature new innovations - the ‘Great Room’ - which is being rolled out across all hotels in the region. Mr. Muin Serhan, general manager of the Riyadh Marriott Hotel said, “The Great Room is stunning with its Arabian oasis atmosphere. Our guests can socialize, unwind, work, or dine in this up-scale space where then can enjoy the ambiance created by the spectacular light installations, Mashrabiya wooden screens, glass mosaics, water feature, and plush seating.” This is taking a “hotel room” to the next level! 

The grand lobby

Other features and amenities at the Riyadh Marriott Hotel include 418 newly-renovated rooms with modern furnishings, newly-designed contemporary executive lounge for dining, relaxing, and working, a ladies-only gym (yes!!!), and stunning new Royal Suite and exclusive crew lounge. They also have pumped up dining venues: Terrace Grill, a fine-dining steakhouse that won the MENA Travel Award and the only restaurant in Riyadh specializing in Angus beef and the Atrium Cafe for relaxed meals and drinks throughout the day. 

With this improvements in the Marriott, I can smell “staycation” in the air! It would not only be perfect for visitors and tourists in the Kingdom. It would also be the perfect venue to spend some quality time with family and friends in Riyadh. All that hard work in the city needs some relaxation and pampering time too. Riyadh Marriott Hotel with its iconic stance and amazing evolution might just be our next destination! ~ Sundrenched

Riyadh Marriott Hotel

Al Ma'ather Street, Al Wazarat District

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

T: +966-11-477-93-00

W: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ruhsa-riyadh-marriott-hotel/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/RiyadhMarriott?ref=br_tf

Twitter: @RiyadhMarriott

Ramadan Tents and Iftar Buffets {Riyadh Hotels // Part 1}

Ramadan is upon us once again. We wish our Muslim brothers and sisters a blessed and fulfilling month. May your sacrifices and offerings be acceptable

As you all know by now, at least for expats living in Saudi Arabia, the country changes overnight. (If you're new to Ramadan, check our guide here.) During the day, Riyadh becomes a ghost city with the Muslims fasting and the expats working on shortened hours (unfortunately for me and other The Pink Tarha ladies, our schedule is unchanged). In the afternoon, rush hour becomes literally a rush hour as people scramble to get home to break fast. 

Iftar, the evening meal when Muslims break their fast, is meant to be shared with families, friends and the community. Nowadays, with the contemporary changes to the Ramadan culture, hotels and restaurants have ushered in Ramadan tents and Iftar buffets. Whatever your belief is on the presence of these luxurious and extravagant culinary indulgences during Ramadan, we at The Pink Tarha are just here to share the information as they come. We rounded up hotels offering Ramadan tents and Iftar buffets...

The grandeur of The Ritz

For a majestic, grand Iftar, visit The Ritz Carlton in Makkah Road. SR 295 per person in their events hall and SR 275 per person for their buffet dining in Al Orjouan Restaurant, which serves Lebanese cuisine. Call 011-802-8020 for reservations.

Delicious spread at the Four Seasons.

Four Seasons Hotel at the Kingdom Centre has a Ramadan Tent.  SR 325 per person in their Ramadan Tent and SR 325 at Elements Restaurant. For reservations, call 011-211-5544.

Rosewood Hotel in Faisaliah

Al Fawanees Ramadan Tent in Al Faisaliah Rosewood Hotel offers Arabic, Asian, and international cuisines at SR320 per person. To reserve, call 011-273-2222.

Sheraton Riyadh Hotel and Towers along King Fahd Road has an Iftar buffet at a more affordable price: SR 180 per person. To reserve, call 011-4543300.

The Mosaic Restaurant in Marriott-Riyadh

Riyadh Marriott Hotel in Al Ma'ather Street offers an Iftar buffet at SR 230 per person from 6:30 to 8:30PM and SR 160 for Sohur buffet from 11:30PM to 3:00PM in their Mosaic Restaurant. For reservations and inquiries, call 011-4779300.

The Courtyard Marriott

Marriott's sister company, Courtyard Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter, in Al-Hada District in Al-Sahmi Street has more affordable Iftar buffet at SR 169 per person. Their sohour buffet which starts at 3:30am is at SR 119. Call 011-283-7300.

The Al Yasmeen Restaurant inside the Crowne Plaza Minhal in the Old Airport Road is popular for its variety and selections. Their Iftar buffet is at SR 195 per person. For inquiries and reservations, call 011-874-9200.

The Intercontinental Riyadh has an Iftar Buffet for SR 245 per person and a Sohur Buffet that starts 12:00 midnight in their Al Bustan Restaurant which costs SR 185. For inquiries, call 011-465-5000. 

The Radisson Blu Hotel

Radisson Blu Hotel in Al Mubakariah Plaza along King Abdulaziz Street has an Iftar Buffet for SR 215. It opens around 7:00PM and a Suhor Buffet for SR 115. For inquiries, call 011-479-1234.

Iftar is done during or after the maghreb prayer which is around 6:45PM this month. Hotel dining rooms and restaurants usually open around 6:30 onwards. More hotel and restaurant lists in our next entries so stay tuned for those. The Pink Tarha ladies usually enjoy 1-2 Iftar deals in restaurants so we're pretty excited to see what the new Iftar offers are in restos in and around Riyadh.  

Of course, by publishing these kinds of lists, it doesn't mean that we patronize the extravagant consumerism that sometimes goes with this season. After all, even if The Pink Tarha ladies are not Muslims, we know that Ramadan should not be about gluttony, too much entertainment, and shopping. It still is about spiritual growth, togetherness, and generosity. Again, the list above (and succeeding ones) is just here for mere information for those who are interested. ;) ~ Sundrenched

Check out part 2 here.