THE InterContinental Hotels Group will grow its portfolio of hotels and resorts in the Middle East and Africa to more than 80 over the next three years.
Five new properties are currently being built and many more are in the pipeline.
The spectacular new InterContinental Abu Soma Resort Red Sea has just opened its doors on Egypt's Red Sea Riviera, a 453-room hotel that offers sea views from each of its guest rooms, which include deluxe, executive and junior suites. Guests have a choice of nine international restaurants and bars, a disco, shopping arcade and beauty salon.
Hotels that are ready to open include the Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah and the InterContinental Heliopolis Cairo, a $600 million development combining shopping, entertainment, office and residential facilities in the Egyptian capital. A new Holiday Inn resort will open at Taba in Egypt by the end of 2004, while other group properties are under development in Cairo, and in Aqaba and on the Dead Sea, both in Jordan.
Backing up the expansion are a range of practical new service initiatives within the group’s hotels across the region. These include 24-hour health clubs and laundry services for InterContinental guests, tailored meeting packages at Crowne Plaza, and Holiday Inn breakfast check-outs saving time for busy executives.