InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Al Hokair Group signed an agreement to open their sixth Holiday Inn together in Saudi Arabia, during the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. Due to open in July 2009, the 180-room Holiday Inn Al-Khobar Corniche will operate under the new Holiday Inn brand standards. Present at the signing was John Bamsey, chief operating officer, IHG Middle East and Africa; Mosaad Al Hokair, managing director of Al Hokair Group; Michel Karam, advisor to executive VP; Nabil Hijazi, hotel division managing director and Rani Gharbié, director of development MEA, IHG. “In 2007, we announced a $1 billion worldwide relaunch of the Holiday Inn brand family to create improved consistency and service levels, as well as a more contemporary brand image,” said John Bamsey, chief operating officer, IHG, Middle East and Africa (MEA) at the signing. “We now have more than 700 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels operating under the new standards worldwide. At relaunched hotels we have seen an uplift in RevPAR and more importantly improved guest satisfaction. We are confident the Holiday Inn Al-Khobar Corniche will enjoy the benefits of the new Holiday Inn brand standards.” Holiday Inn Al-Khobar Corniche will have two meeting rooms with a capacity of 120 people and a ballroom with for 800 people. The hotel will also have a coffee shop, operated by Coffee Shop Co., and a restaurant serving international cuisine. Bamsey added that “with Holiday Inn we have built a relationship with frequent business and leisure travellers by understanding their needs for services, facilities and convenient locations and that is exactly what the Holiday Inn Al-Khobar Corniche will deliver.”
