IHG, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has announced two new properties in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Further strengthening its foothold in the luxury segment in KSA, IHG has signed a management agreement for InterContinental Dammam in partnership with Salem Mohammed Al Qahtani. To cater to the need for more branded midscale accommodation in Riyadh, IHG has also signed a management agreement for Holiday Inn Riyadh Al Malaz in partnership with Saleh Alsalamah and Partner Companies.
The agreements were announced at Saudi Arabia Hospitality Investment Conference (SHIC) 2020 in Riyadh.
Opening in 2024, InterContinental Dammam will be IHG’s first hotel in the city and will strengthen the company’s presence in KSA’s eastern provinces. Strategically located in the heart of the new city centre, the hotel will be situated across the street from King Abdullah’s Cultural Complex and will be a short drive to the Coral Island. Dammam’s most popular shopping malls will be within a few minutes’ drive as well. Catering to a range of travellers, InterContinental Dammam will feature 289 thoughtfully designed rooms and will feature world-class amenities including three restaurants, an outdoor pool and deck, an indoor pool, a gym and six well-equipped meeting rooms.
Opening later this year, the 121-rooms Holiday Inn Riyadh Al Malaz will be located in the city centre of Riyadh, near government institutions and several ministries. The property will be well positioned to cater to government, corporate and domestic leisure guests. The hotel will be the 5th Holiday Inn branded hotel in Riyadh and will cater to the growing numbers of visitors to the capital city. To further enhance the guest experience, Holiday Inn Riyadh Al Malaz will introduce the concept of an ‘Open Lobby’, a revolutionary approach which has transformed the traditional hotel lobby format by combining the front desk, lobby, F&B, lounge area and business centre into one open, cohesive space. The hotel will also offer an array of amenities including a pool, a gym, a business centre, meeting rooms and two restaurants.
Commenting on the announcements, Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG, said: “Continuing our growth momentum in Saudi Arabia, we are pleased to add two new properties, InterContinental Dammam and Holiday Inn Riyadh Al Malaz to our portfolio. Both brands are well established in the Kingdom and in demand for existing guest segments visiting the country. Furthermore, we are rapidly expanding our presence in Saudi Arabia to cater to an increasing number of guests coming to the country, as a result of vision 2030 and ensuing initiatives by the Government.”
He added: In last 12 months, we have signed 10 hotels, across our portfolio of brands in the Kingdom. We will also be opening an office in Riyadh to further drive our growth and performance in the country. These developments are testament to our commitment to the market and to respond to the needs of the travellers coming to the country.”
Salem Mohammed Al Qahtani, Owner, Salem Mohammed Al Qahtani said: “We are excited to partner with a leading global hospitality player such as IHG, to bring their international luxury brand, InterContinental, to the city of Dammam. IHG has a strong legacy in Saudi Arabia, and with their market understanding and expertise, we are confident that InterContinental Dammam will be a great success and a hotel of choice for our discerning guests visiting the city.”
Sheikh Saleh Hossain Al-Salamah, Chairman of the Board, Saleh Alsalamah and Partner Companies said: “With the increasing number of travelers coming to the Kingdom, as a result of Saudi Vision 2030, there is need for more quality branded accommodation. Holiday Inn is a well-known brand internationally, as well as in the Kingdom, and we are pleased to partner with IHG to open Holiday Inn Riyadh Al Malaz. We look forward to welcoming our guests and offer them a great stay experience when we open our doors later this year.”
Saudi Arabia is a priority market for IHG in the Middle, with a current portfolio of 33 hotels (15,388 rooms) across 6 brands including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites and voco, and 20 hotels (10,028 rooms) in the pipeline, set to open in the next 3-5 years.
The company recently announced plans to open an office in Riyadh in March 2020 and appointed new management dedicated to Saudi Arabia.