IHG Hotels and Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies with more than 6,000 hotels, across 18 distinct brands, has signed a master development agreement with Tashyid for Hotel Operations Limited, which will see the development of 12 hotels and 2,500 keys under the Holiday Inn Express brand across the Kingdom.
With the Ministry of Tourism encouraging such investments in the country, the signing took place in the presence of Mahmoud Abdulhadi, deputy minister for destination enablement.
The agreement will allow IHG to expand and diversify its mainstream offering across Saudi Arabia, in line with the demand being created by initiatives under Saudi Vision 2030.
Holiday Inn Express champions simple, smart travel by providing a launch pad for guests to make their connection and is highly suitable for new-age smart travelers visiting Saudi Arabia across business, leisure and meetings segments, including the Kingdom’s biggest and growing demographic of millennials and Gen Z travelers.
As part of the agreement, IHG has also signed the first Holiday Inn Express hotel with Tashyid for Hotels Operations, which will debut the brand in Jeddah by June 2025. Marking a key milestone for the brand in the Kingdom, the 300-room hotel will be located on Madinah Road, one of the busiest areas in the city. Providing a best-in-class experience, guest rooms at Holiday Inn Express Jeddah will feature amenities such as high-speed WiFi, smart TVs, premium bedding and pillow options to ensure guests have a restful stay. The hotel will also offer signature complimentary “Express Start Breakfast,” speedy check-in, and power showers to ensure guests are recharged for the day.
Known for its success in the upper-midscale segment and understanding of the “Next Gen Smart traveler,” Holiday Inn Express hotels in Saudi Arabia will debut reimagined public spaces and guest rooms that blend trendy and efficient design with local aesthetic. The public spaces will serve as lively and engaging spaces featuring a revamped F and B offering, while the guest rooms will offer a balance of home comforts with smart design giving guests flexibility to better support their routine.
Haitham Mattar, managing director, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG Hotels and Resorts, said: “As we continue to expand our presence and diversify our offering, in line with Saudi Arabia’s tourism strategy, we are delighted to announce a partnership with Tashyid for Hotel Operations to further grow our Holiday Inn Express offering in the Kingdom for domestic and international travelers alike.
“Saudi Vision 2030 has created tremendous opportunities for the tourism and hospitality industry, and we see an increasing demand for our brands across segments. Holiday Inn Express is a great offering for smart travelers who seek a hassle-free and efficient stay experience, and we are looking forward to providing this experience to guests across the country, in the coming years.
Falih Motasim Hajaj, chief executive of Tashyid, added: “We are delighted to partner with IHG Hotels and Resorts to enable our rapid expansion within Saudi Arabia, in line with Saudi Vision 2030. With the Kingdom marking its presence on a global tourism map, working with leading industry partners such as IHG is key to helping set new standards of hospitality, embrace innovation and ultimately achieve a diversified economy.”
Holiday Inn Express is IHG’s fastest growing brand with currently more than 3,000 operating hotels, globally.
IHG Hotels and Resorts currently operates 39 hotels across five brands in Saudi Arabia, including: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites, and voco, with 30 hotels in the development pipeline set to open within the next three to five years.
