Al-Hokair Group for Tourism and Development appointed Hessa Al-Mazrou as the general manager of Suite Novotel Hotel Riyadh, making her the first Saudi woman to hold this position in the Al-Hokair Group.
Sami Al-Hokair, managing director and the CEO of Al-Hokair Group, said the group seeks the empowerment of women in all aspects of the Saudi hospitality sector as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to encourage the participation of Saudi women in both social and professional fields.
He also added that this is not only a great achievement for the group, but is also a great achievement for the Saudi hospitality sector.
“We are very confident that this step will encourage women to pursue their career aspirations. That is why it gives us great pleasure to welcome Hessa Al-Mazrou. We believe that her extensive experience will enhance the hotel's status and success in the competitive hospitality market of Riyadh,” he said.
Al-Mazrou expressed her gratitude, asking Allah to help her raise to the expectations of the group and its leaders.
Al-Mazrou has over 10 years of experience in hospitality, brand management and promotion, strategic planning and development and event management, as well as managing the group’s social responsibility programs, customer loyalty programs and public relations.
Accor Hotels appoint Saudi woman as hotel manager
Accor Hotels appoint Saudi woman as hotel manager
25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum
The Social Development Bank concluded the second edition of the Entrepreneurship and Modern Business Practices Forum — DeveGo 2025 — announcing the achievement of high-impact outcomes that further reinforced the forum’s position as the largest national platform in the region dedicated to entrepreneurship, innovation, and freelance work in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
The forum witnessed broad participation from local and international experts, investors, entrepreneurs, and representatives of local, regional, and international institutions.
Over three days at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, the forum drew 25,000 participants and visitors, who benefited from over 45 specialized workshops and over 2500 advisory sessions delivered by more than 70 consultants and experts.
The sessions covered key areas including entrepreneurial planning, business models, venture capital, digital platforms, freelancing, and emerging technologies.
The forum also featured 20 panel discussions with leading local and international speakers, addressing major global trends in entrepreneurship, including the future of artificial intelligence, the creative economy, digital transformation, and venture investment.
The forum saw the launch of the Saudi Empretec Fellowship, in the presence of Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development.
The partners in success within the Social Responsibility Portfolio supporting entrepreneurs were honored.
It also saw the honoring of 13 winners of the Handicrafts Competition, representing various regions of the Kingdom, the announcement of winners of the Salam Award for Promising Projects, and the recognition of leading entrepreneurial projects fund under the Enterprises Track.
In addition, the NEXT UP Challenge concluded on the third day of the forum with 20 startups presenting their projects to more than 500 investors, enhancing opportunities for networking and partnership building.
As part of efforts to strengthen the support ecosystem, the forum witnessed the signing of 51 agreements, along with the launch of a suite of new financing products. These included the Capital Expansion Product with a ceiling of up to SR10 million, the Payroll Product with a ceiling of SR2 million, and the Rental Product with a ceiling of SR1.5 million, aimed at supporting enterprises in asset development and covering operational costs.
This reflects the bank’s direction toward offering more specialized financing tools that respond effectively to market needs.
The forum concluded by reaffirming its role as a unifying national platform for entrepreneurship, where accompanying activities and events provided direct engagement opportunities between entrepreneurs, investors, and experts.
The forum also highlighted success stories and practical experiences that reflect the scale of entrepreneurial momentum in the Kingdom and the growing role of the Social Development Bank in supporting a national economy driven by innovation and knowledge.
