Three-year focus on groups and meetings business for hotel group

DUBAI - InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is busy promoting its seven international brands, with emphasis on the five brands which have launched in the MEA region: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Express by Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites.

"Our business strategy for 2008 is to promote all of IHG's diverse brands to the different tiers of traveller that choose them - from those in search of quality, limited service that Express by Holiday Inn properties offer to the sophisticated leisure travellers looking for an authentic experience at an InterContinental.

We are expanding rapidly over the next few years - we currently have 73 properties in the MEA region and there are a further 36 properties and 9,281 rooms in the development pipeline," Mattar explained.

IHG's rapid expansion saw the group open InterContinental Hotels and Resorts' 150th hotel globally - InterContinental Dubai Festival City which has just opened its doors on the banks of the city's creek at the end of last year. The property has a dedicated events centre that links it to Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City, which opened in March.

"IHG is focusing resources on increasing groups and meetings business over the next three years," Mattar concluded.