Holiday Inn Express to start Saudi roll-out
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InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Saudi-based investment holdingcompany, Siraj Capital Ltd (Siraj), today announced the locations ofthe first three Holiday Inn Express hotels to become operational in theKingdom.
The three new hotels will be located in Madinah Road,Jeddah, Knowledge Economic City, Madinah and King Abdullah EconomicCityunder a master franchise agreement between IHG and Siraj which willsee 12 Holiday Inn Express hotels open in Saudi Arabia over the nextfive years.
Holiday Inn Express is a well established limitedservice hotel brand in Europe and the United States. Holiday InnExpress is an uncomplicated hotel choice for guests on the go, offeringthe quality and service of a Holiday Inn with pared down facilities tosuit the needs of guests on the move.
The agreement for thedevelopment of the first three locations was signed at theInterContinental Jeddah by John Bamsey, chief operating officer, IHGMiddle East and Africa, and Ibrahim A. Mardam-Bey, chief executiveofficer, Siraj Capital Ltd.
John Bamsey said: “This is the firstlimited service hotel brand to enter Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom receivesaround 12 million tourists a year and we are confident that by offeringcompetitive pricing, quality accommodation and excellent service,backed by the confidence of an established global brand, that HolidayInn Express will be a major success.
“The Gulf markets havebeen dominated by luxury, upscale hotel brands over the past 30 yearsbut, as markets mature and develop, consumers seek out trusted brands.The introduction of Holiday Inn Express in to Saudi Arabia extends ourbrand portfolio giving our guests even more choice and convenience.”
Asthe master franchisee for the development, operation and management ofthe Holiday Inn Express brand across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, SirajCapital has banked on the value of the brand.
Ibrahim A.Mardam-Bey, chief executive officer, Siraj Capital Ltd., commented: “Holiday Inn Express is undergoing the biggest relaunch in thehospitality industry with a $1 billion investment across more than3,200 hotels and 430,000 rooms worldwide.”
“Nine out of tentravellers have stayed at a Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express - that’smore than any other hotel brand in the world. With that level ofpopularity among international travellers, I am confident that theseproperties in Saudi will also find favour with domestic and regionalbusiness and leisure visitors.”
“As a further endorsement of ourcommitment to the hospitality sector in Saudi Arabia, Siraj Capital isalso proud to announce our partnership with Global Hotels &Resorts, headed by Sheikh Mohammed Yousef El Khereiji, who will play aninstrumental role in further developing the Holiday Inn Express brandin the Kingdom.”
The first three Holiday Inn Express properties inSaudi Arabia will offer 575 rooms. The hotel at Madinah Road, Jeddahwill offer 252 rooms, King Abdullah Economic City will feature 183rooms, and there will be 140 rooms available at Knowledge EconomicCity, Madinah.
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