InterContinental Hotels Group partners with ISO Leisure to develop 25 properties in South Africa
Dubai: InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has recently opened Holiday Inn Express* Cape Town City Centre, the group's first limited service hotel in South Africa. Built at a cost of USD16.24 million, the hotel is the first of 25 properties IHG is developing across the country under an exclusive agreement with ISO Leisure, a leading hospitality industry developer in South Africa.
Conveniently located in St George's Mall Street in the heart of Cape Town's revived and vibrant Central Business District, Holiday Inn Express Cape Town City Centre is in a perfect setting for the budget-conscious business and leisure traveller. To add to this, the hotel is in close proximity to the world renowned Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, with majestic views across to Table Mountain.
The property comprises 175 well-appointed rooms which provide guests with cable TV, a power shower, in-room safe, coffee and tea facilities, plus complimentary continental breakfast at the 'Great Room' restaurant. Guests can also make use of a fully-equipped business centre with high speed internet access.
Commenting on the new opening, John Bamsey, Chief Operating Officer, IHG, Middle East & Africa said: "Holiday Inn Express is the fastest growing limited service brand in the world, opening on average two hotels every week around the globe. We are proud to be partnering with ISO Leisure to bring this extremely popular brand to South Africa with the opening of Holiday Inn Express Cape Town City Centre."
"We are also working with ISO Leisure to bring three more properties under the Holiday Inn flag into South Africa within the next two years. These will be two Holiday Inn Express hotels and one Holiday Inn. Adding these properties to our estate will address the increased demand for internationally-branded, high-quality accommodation and support the growth of business and leisure travel to South Africa."
ISO Leisure Chief Executive, Gavin Watson, said: "Our partnership with IHG to develop four hotels, totalling USD771.71 million in new investment, is indicative of our confidence going forward in the country's economy, especially its leisure and tourism sector. Holiday Inn is the world's leading hospitality industry brand and, just four years ago, was voted South Africa's top performing hotel brand. We have every reason to believe that the properties, ideally located in South Africa's leading commercial and tourist centres, will be every bit as successful."
Holiday Inn Express Cape Town City Centre is IHG's second Holiday Inn Express property to open in the Middle East and Africa region, with the UAE's Holiday Inn Express Dubai Internet City having opened in November 2007.
Developed by IHG in 1991, Holiday Inn Express is the world's largest limited service brand and is growing rapidly. Globally, there are more than 1,800 Holiday Inn Express properties with over 155,000 rooms offering comfort, value and convenience to international business and leisure travellers.
* In October 2007, IHG announced a worldwide re-launch of the Holiday Inn brand family, which comprises Holiday Inn, Express by Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express. All Holiday Inn hotels are required to implement the relaunch programme to create a more contemporary brand image, increase quality and drive consistency. The relaunch will result in all Express by Holiday Inn hotels being known as Holiday Inn Express globally, as well a new service promise, a redesigned welcome experience and refreshed guestrooms.
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About IHG
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) of the United Kingdom [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is one of the world's largest hotel groups by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, almost 4,000 hotels and more than 585,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. IHG owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites® and Hotel Indigo®, and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club® Rewards with over 37 million members worldwide.
The company pioneered the travel industry's first collaborative response to environmental issues as founder of the International Hotels and Environment Initiative (IHEI). The IHEI formed the foundations of the Tourism Partnership launched by the International Business Leaders Forum in 2004, of which IHG is still a member today. The environment and local communities remain at the heart of IHG's global corporate responsibility focus.
InterContinental Hotels Group offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at www.ihg.com/ and information for the Priority Club Rewards programme at www.priorityclub.com/.
For the latest news from InterContinental Hotels Group, visit our online Press Office at www.ihg.com/media
ISO Leisure
ISO Leisure is a leisure industry developer and operator established in 2006. Its principal shareholders include Amabubesi Investments, a Qatar-based property-owning family trust, and a consortium of South African investors. Gavin Watson is the Chief Executive, and Gary Foster the Group Operations Director.
Amabubesi Investments (Pty) Ltd was established in 2002 as a black economic empowerment entity that is owned and controlled by historically disadvantaged South Africans, premised on sound business principles. Amabubesi sees itself as a new generation player in the BEE arena. Its business model is one of actively participating in the business of its partners in order to add value and ensure growth.
Sango Ntsabula, who is also the founder of South Africa's largest black-owned accountancy practice, is Executive Chairman and CE. Other shareholders and directors include Peter Moyo, Thabiso Tlelai (CE of the Don Group), and attorney Solomzi Sontshaka.
For further press information please contact:
Impact Porter Novelli
PO Box 19791
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
Contact:
Nora Feidi,
Senior Account Executive
Tel: 9714 3304030 Ext: 431
Fax: 9714 3304031
E-mail: n.feidi@ipn.ae
© Press Release 2008
