Leisure & Hospitality Hong Kong’s airport lounge operator targets Saudi expansion By Pramod Kumar May 26, 2024, 5:02 AM Plaza Premium Group/X PPG's arrival airport lounge Heathrow Airport. Hong Kong’s airport lounge operator, Plaza Premium Group (PPG), has earmarked $100 million to expand across the Middle East, focusing on Saudi Arabia. The regional expansion is part of its three-year $300 million global expansion plan. The funds will be allocated to opening lounges, establishing an airport concierge service with white-glove service, opening innovative dining outlets and exploring opportunities for in-terminal hotels. The company has been operating in the Middle East since 2014 and has a presence in 15 locations across eight international airports in Amman, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Dubai, and Muscat. Overall, PPG is in 80 airports, spanning 30 countries and 250 locations. The Middle East tourism sector is projected to grow approximately 7.7% annually until 2032, with Saudi Arabia alone planning to spend over $100 billion as part of its vision to become a global aviation hub. The Middle East investment aims to establish a corporate presence in Saudi Arabia, supporting its goal of expanding its global footprint to 500 locations by 2025. The projected investment will help to elevate PPG’s portfolio and add value to the development of airport hospitality services at the existing and upcoming destinations throughout the Middle East, said founder and CEO Song Hoi-See. “This is an exciting time to invest in the Middle East, a region that exemplifies the future of travel and tourism,” he added.