Business & Finance Club - Makkah : The number of hotel rooms in Saudi Arabia is expected to reach 308,000 by 2014, up from 230,000 in 2008, a report said.

The kingdom’s tourism sector is making intensified efforts to accommodate the projected 6.5 per cent year-on-year increase in tourist arrivals in the country.

Religious tourism remains the main driver of Saudi Arabia's tourism industry with millions of Muslim pilgrims visiting the country annually, prompting a surge in development projects to boost tourism and hospitality infrastructure around religious sites, the report said.

Al Marwa Rayhaan by Rotana, a leading hotel in Saudi Arabia and the closest to the Holy Mosque in Makkah, has reported continuing surge in visitor footfall as reflected by its increasing occupancy rate in its 426 luxurious rooms and suites.

Al Marwa Rayhaan by Rotana is part of the Al Bayt Towers complex, one of the ongoing King Abdul Aziz Endowment (Waqf) projects being developed in the areas surrounding the Holy Mosque.

Hany Khorshid, general manager, Al Marwa Rayhaan by Rotana - Makkah, said: "Al Marwa Rayhaan by Rotana achieved client satisfaction rate of 88 per cent till this month. At the same time, we are maintaining our commitment to deliver the highest levels of service quality to our guests to complement the corresponding business growth and the increasing investments in various hospitality and tourism infrastructure."

Al Marwa Rayhaan by Rotana is located on the right side of the Al Bayt Towers project, which faces King Abdul Aziz Gate and offers an excellent view of the Holy Mosque and the Ka'aba.

There are three restaurants at the hotel offering breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets in addition to à la carte menu, as well as 24-hour in-room dining.