Abstract:

As the birthplace of Muhammad and a site of the composition of the Quran, Makkah is regarded as the holiest city in the religion of Islam. It is recognized for drawing millions to the city each year for the Hajj, a pilgrimage obligatory for all able-bodied Muslims.  Since it was absorbed into Saudi Arabia in 1925, Makkah has seen tremendous expansion in size and infrastructure. Today, more than 15 million Muslims visit Makkah annually, including several million over a brief, four day span for the Hajj pilgrimage. As a result, Makkah has recently seen an explosion of growth in the development of large, luxury hotels particularly surrounding the Masjid al-Haram (The Sacred Mosque) that are intended to cater to the needs of pilgrims that can afford such premium prices.

With an ever growing need for affordable hotels, certain developers have begun to focus on a new prototype: the Mega-Hotel. These hotels provide affordable hotel rooms to visitors and large tours from surrounding countries. In order to be profitable, these hotels must accommodate a large population of guests for the few days of Hajj. The confluence of large groups of visitors the Hajj brings, within a hotel environment, creates operational challenges different from any other large hotel in the world.

This presentation will outline the operational and contextual challenges associated with this new hospitality prototype. At the conclusion of the Seminar, the participant will understand these challenges and the design responses that address them.

Short Profile:

Eric Vogel is a Principal in the firm with extensive international experience. His work ranges from hotel, residential and commercial buildings to academic and institutional facilities, with a strong focus on hospitality work. He has completed master plans, new hotel development, renovation and expansion projects domestically and internationally for clients such as Four Seasons Boston, PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach, FL and the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is actively involved in expanding CBT's overseas efforts and manages projects in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan.

He is currently working on a number of planning and design projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Mr. Vogel received a Bachelor of Science in Design and Planning from University of Colorado.