Filipino Hotel Brand Makes Explosive Entry into Saudi Arabia with 25 Billion Riyal Expansion Plan

Hotel News: Hotel101 Chain Joins Forces with Saudi Giant for Mega Expansion Hotel101, the ambitious Filipino hotel chain backed by Injap Sia and Jollibee founder Tony Tan Caktiong, is making headlines once again—this time with a record-breaking international expansion into Saudi Arabia. The company has entered a landmark joint venture agreement with Horizon Group, a major Saudi conglomerate helmed by Abdulrahman Sharbatly. Together, they plan to build a total of five hotels across strategic locations in the Kingdom, including Medina, Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, and AlUla. Altogether, the project aims to deliver up to 10,000 rooms and is valued at a staggering $2.5 billion.

This Hotel News report marks a major leap forward for Hotel101’s global aspirations. Founder Edgar “Injap” Sia II emphasized that this move brings the brand significantly closer to its long-term goal of operating one million hotel rooms worldwide. “We are inspired by the leaders of Saudi Arabia and their sheer determination and will power to make things happen,” Sia said. “We believe the Hotel101 concept will be able to make a significant contribution in terms of room keys to complement the 2030 vision for the Kingdom.”

Aligning With Vision 2030 and Redefining Affordable Hospitality

The deal is not just about building hotels—it’s a carefully calculated alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. This national strategy aims to diversify the Kingdom’s economy and turn it into a global tourism hub. Horizon Group CEO Sharbatly highlighted that the venture will contribute significantly to Saudi Arabia’s tourism goals, support job creation, and expand accommodation options for pilgrims, tourists, and business travelers alike. “With Hotel101’s rapid-build model and Horizon’s local know-how, we will add 10,000 quality, affordable rooms across the Kingdom,” Sharbatly stated.

Hotel101’s signature “HappyRoom” concept—a standardized, tech-enabled room design across all properties—is central to this initiative. With around 500 rooms planned per hotel in Saudi Arabia, the brand is maintaining its core model of efficiency, affordability, and uniform guest experience across all locations.

Saudi Market Seen as a Key Growth Engine

CEO Hannah Yulo-Luccini described Saudi Arabia as one of Hotel101’s “most exciting” markets. She noted the exponential growth of both domestic and international tourism in the Kingdom, with 2023 figures showing over 100 million visitors and $67 billion in tourist spending. The goal is to exceed 150 million tourists annually by 2030, making Saudi Arabia a ripe market for Hotel101’s global growth strategy.

The company isn’t stopping there. It has already topped off its 680-room project in Madrid, Spain—set to launch just in time for the city’s first Formula 1 Grand Prix in December 2025. Additional projects are in the pipeline in Hokkaido, Japan, and Los Angeles, California. Altogether, Hotel101 has identified 25 priority markets including the US, UK, Japan, and several countries across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The ultimate goal? Reach 25 countries by 2026 and 100 countries by 2050.

The Rise of a Disruptive Global Hospitality Player

Hotel101 is not your average hotel chain. Owned by the Philippine-based DoubleDragon Corporation, the brand has popularized the “Investing Made Simple” model, which allows individuals to buy units in its hotels and earn passive income. This disruptive approach to property investment, combined with a streamlined hotel room experience, positions Hotel101 as a formidable player in the global hospitality scene.

The Saudi Arabia expansion isn’t just another overseas project—it’s a bold statement. With the Horizon Group partnership, Hotel101 is entering one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism markets with serious momentum. The move will not only boost the company’s room count significantly but also solidify its presence in the Gulf region—potentially paving the way for future ventures across the Middle East and North Africa.

Hotel101’s unwavering focus on standardized quality, rapid deployment, and strategic local partnerships could very well redefine budget-friendly global hospitality in the coming decades.

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