InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) will open a new Holiday Inn property in Dubai in early 2008.

The announcement follows a development agreement to build Holiday Inn Bur Dubai, set to open in 2009. 

The Holiday Inn Dubai Al Barsha and Holiday Inn Bur Dubai properties will be the third and fourth Holiday Inn hotels in the UAE respectively.

Holiday Inn Dubai Al Barsha will be ideally situated near Mall of the Emirates, one the city’s largest and most popular shopping malls and entertainment centres, as well as commercial hubs such as Dubai Internet and Media Cities and Jebel Ali Freezone.  It will cater to both business and leisure travellers looking for dependability, friendly service and modern attractive facilities at excellent value.

“Holiday Inn is one of the world’s most recognisable hotel brands with a global reputation for service, comfort and value and we are very pleased to partner with owning company Splendid Hotels Group to further expand the brand’s presence in the thriving UAE market,” said John Bamsey, chief operating officer, InterContinental Hotels Group, Middle East & Africa.

“The hotel industry needs more than one million new rooms in the next five years – more than half of which are in the mid-scale segment.  IHG will aim to meet this demand with an aggressive expansion plan for Holiday Inn, not only throughout the Middle East and Africa but on a global scale.” 

Holiday Inn Dubai Al Barsha, which his located on the city’s main hub Sheikh Zayed Road, will feature 310 spacious rooms, including suites complete with WiFi and 95 beautifully-appointed studios, one and two bedroom rooms. The in-house conference facilities will feature state-of-the-art video, audio and telecommunications equipment for corporate visitors, as well as a fully-equipped business centre.

For leisure travellers, the hotel will also offer a fully-equipped spa inclusive of a temperature controlled swimming pool, gym, sauna, steam room and pool deck.

A selection of dining options will include Thai, Indian and Arabic restaurants and a Sushi Bar, as well as an all day dining outlet, which will serve a diverse mix of cuisine. Guests will also be able to enjoy an afternoon coffee at the Lobby Lounge, or an evening drink at the Sports Bar and night club.

Globally, the Holiday Inn brand has 1,370 hotels with a further 323 currently in the pipeline. – TradeArabia News Service