Ankara: Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz has booked an entire hotel in Turkey’s southern Antalya province during his 18-day visit to the city as part of the G20 Summit to be held later this month and will reportedly pay a whopping $18 million for his stay there, a media report on Sunday said.
According to reports, the Saudi King will be staying at Mardan Palace, which is known to be the most expensive luxury resort in Europe and the Mediterranean region and will check in at the hotel a few days before the G20 Summit, which will take place in Antalya on November 15-16, Daily Sabah reported.
Salman’s entourage is expected to consist of 100 people, and the hotel will reportedly be closed for all other guests who want to stay at the hotel.
The hotel is reportedly paying exclusive attention to all details throughout the complex, including the rooms the king will stay in, as well as electronic equipment, furniture, and the red carpet.
The hotel staff and chefs are also receiving special training to serve the king.
Turkey officially took over the presidency of the G20 for the first time in November 2014.
Turkish officials have stated that security for the summit will be high as US President Barack Obama, European Union leaders, Russian and Chinese leaders and other important heads of state will be in attendance.
The hotels housing the summit’s attendees will be separated from the rest of the neighbourhoods and only accredited visitors will be granted access to the area.
King Salman has previously received criticism for his “VIP taste” during his visit to the Cote d’Azur in France, when a popular 100-metre-long beach was closed to public upon his request.
He cut his three-week trip short and went to Morocco when over 100,000 people frustrated about the closure of the public beach outside his villa signed petitions.
—IANS