Khalid Al Zahrani has worked across the KSA hotel sector for 20 years
Shangri-La Jeddah continues to grow its pre-opening team, strengthened by a focus on Saudisation efforts. The soon-to-open property has now announced KSA local Khalid Al Zahrani will join the team as director of sales.
Zahrani’s appointment was announced by Shangri-La Jeddah GM Alexander Blair, who described the new arrival as “a driven sales professional whose passion and enthusiasm is contagious.”
Ahead of its opening in October, Zahrani will be responsible for leading the sales team and ensuring a smooth hotel launch. He will be expected to position the 235-key hotel as Jeddah’s pre-eminent property for leisure and business travellers alike.
“I am so excited about the opening of Shangri-La Jeddah,” he said. “Our first property in Saudi Arabia will be exceptional, providing 235 guestrooms, 55 suites and 18 residences, and some of the best restaurants and events venues in town.”
Zahrani has worked in hospitality for two decades, starting out as a front desk receptionist at Makkah Sofitel in 2001. He continued to rise the ranks of the hotel, leaving as a reservations manager in 2005. From there he worked across IHG, Pullman Hotels and Makarem Hotels in a range of front office and finance positions.
It was in 2015 he entered the sales world, acting as sales manager for Marriott in Makkah, later becoming assistant director of sales. Prior to his most recent position, he was the group assistant director of sales at Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel for two years.
As Shangri-La’s debut property in the GCC state, it has put Saudisation at the forefront of its hiring process, with both Aisha Azmi and Bander Bakker recently joining.