IHG announced two more projects in the UAE, specifically in Abu Dhabi. They will open an Intercontinental Hotel, 184 apartments, and a Holiday Inn, 257 rooms.
The first, Intercontinental Abu Dhabi – Grand Marina opens in 2016, will be developed in partnership with the National Corporation of Tourism and Hotels and will, among other facilities, include a starry Michelin restaurant. Other highlights will be the spa and convention area.
And the Holiday Inn Downtown Abu Dhabi will be a conversion of the Sands Hotel in the center of Abu Dhabi as the new hotel will undergo a refurbishment and will be open until the end of 2014. It will be developed with Pearl Azure Hotel Management LLC. It will also boast a restaurant, bar, pool, fitness centre and a dedicated meeting space.
The National Corporation of Tourism and Hotels and Pearl Azure Hotel Management LLC already have three IHG properties in their portfolio across the UAE: InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi and Crowne Plaza Dubai. Along with these new projects comes a renewal of the management agreement for the existing InterContinental Abu Dhabi.
Pascal Gauvin, Chief Operating Officer, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG commented: “As the capital of the UAE and one of the fastest growing cities in the Middle East, Abu Dhabi is a key market for IHG and we see strong potential for all our brands here. Our partners play an important role in our growth strategy and we are committed to building long-term relationships with them. We have had a long and successful partnership with the National Corporation of Tourism and Hotels and Pearl Azure Hotel Management LLC for nearly two decades now. The signing of the new InterContinental and Holiday Inn is a fantastic step in for both our partners and IHG and we look forward to continuing our partnership to develop more industry-leading hotels for the growing travel market in Abu Dhabi.”
