The Holiday Inn Express is set make its debut in Saudi Arabia following an agreement between Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) and the Al Hokair Group.
The master development agreement will see the roll-out of at least 10 Holiday Inn Express hotels over the next 15 years.
Speaking on the announcement, Pascal Gauvin, managing director, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG said: “IHG has a strong legacy in Saudi Arabia, which is a key market for us in the Middle East. We are proud to once again collaborate with our esteemed long-term partner, Al Hokair Group, to bring the Holiday Inn Express brand to the country, and further expand our offering to domestic and international travellers, alike.
“The tourism landscape in Saudi Arabia is rapidly changing and we are excited to leverage the huge growth opportunities that Saudi Vision 2030 presents, particularly given that one of the biggest pillars of the plan is to bring more tourism into the country.”
He added: “We are the largest operator in Saudi Arabia with a strong portfolio of 31 hotels across 4 brands, offering specialised stay experiences to varied guests’ profiles, and with this signing, we are further extending our consumer appeal by offering quality, yet affordable accommodation for savvy travellers.”
Sami Alhokair, managing director, Al Hokair Group said: “We are delighted to further strengthen our partnership with a global leader such as IHG, who continue to be a trusted brand in Saudi Arabia. IHG’s portfolio aligns with our objective to strengthen our presence in the Kingdom as well as our commitment to Vision 2030.
“Holiday Inn Express is world renowned brand, offering great value to the guests and, in the absence of an adequate supply of mid-market hotels to cater to the increasing demand, this signing presents us with unprecedented opportunities to capture the volume segment.”
Al Hokair Group currently operates six Holiday Inn hotels in Saudi Arabia. As per the exclusive new agreement, the first Holiday Inn Express will be a 200-room hotel based in Jeddah, closely followed by openings in various key cities across the country. All 10 hotels will be operated under long-term franchise agreements.
