Noting the potential of Kuwait’s emerging tourism and travel sector, the world’s most global hotel company InterContinental Hotels Group has responded by doubling its interests in the country over the next year and a half.
Currently, InterContinental Hotels Group operates two hotels in the country, including the recently opened Holiday Inn Salmiyah and the ever popular Crowne Plaza Kuwait. However the ambitious group has realized the potential of the market and has plans to open its second Holiday Inn brand property in the country, the Holiday Inn Downtown Kuwait in early 2006, followed by the InterContinental Kuwait in 2007.
With aspirations to be the most popular hotel brand in the Kuwaiti market, InterContinental Hotels Group is confident about opening two new properties in the coming 18 months based on the success of its hotels already established in Kuwait.
“This March saw the opening of the Holiday Inn Salmiyah which has been warmly received by the residents of Kuwait and our international guests, enjoying both the array of restaurants as well as the business facilities. The demand has been amazing and it just makes good business sense to further develop the InterContinental Hotels Group portfolio in this bustling and fast growing Gulf-state,” said Hani Kafafi, DOO, Northern Gulf, InterContinental Hotels Group.
Right on target, the 135-room Holiday Inn Kuwait, located 200 meters from the seafront and 22km from Kuwait International Airport, has proven to be a hit amongst business and leisure travelers. It appears that the Holiday Inn, the most famous and widely recognized hotel brand in the world is just as popular in Kuwait as in every other country that it has opened in.
Speaking about the success of the Holiday Inn brand in Kuwait – and the plans for another property to open, Kafafi said: “More guests have stayed at a Holiday Inn property than at any other hotel brand in the world. From my experience, the Holiday Inn brand is met with such a favourable reaction due to the fact that it provides what is really important to our guests; a great night’s sleep, a hearty breakfast, an outstanding rewards program and last – but not least – friendly and helpful staff.”
Further building on its status as the largest operator of hotels in the Middle East, InterContinental Hotels Group is also expanding its brand presence in Kuwait with the introduction of the InterContinental Kuwait. With 36 other InterContinental branded properties in the Middle East, the group believed it was time for the Kuwaiti market to experience its top-of-the-range property.
With the majority of guests in the country attending for business reasons, InterContinental Hotels Group has experienced a strong demand for its meeting and business facilities. “We host many regional and international meetings at our properties and we are well-equipped to do so. Between the Crowne Plaza Kuwait and the Holiday Inn Kuwait, we boast 25 different meeting and conference rooms with the latest technology set-up, top-quality catering and highly professional meeting staff.”
With the group doubling its interests in Kuwait, it has the opportunity to equip the new properties with some of the most up-to-date technology. And this is something that Kafafi sees as a real market advantage. Looking to the future, Kafafi believes that technology will be used to better understand customers’ needs and preferences – which will result in a more comfortable and accommodating stay for guests. For now, both InterContinental Hotels Group properties in Kuwait offer high-speed Internet connection in all rooms and wireless connectivity in public areas. “We are also proud to mention that Crowne Plaza Kuwait is one of the most secure hotels in Kuwait City with sophisticated security in place, which has been approved by the highest security authority in the country.”
Extremely popular in Kuwait, visitors keep returning to InterContinental Hotels Group properties because of its support of a global network of hotels. With a tremendous reservation network, which is easily accessible so you can get your preferred room type, view and other requests long before you arrive, the group has a reputation for providing the ultimate guest experience. “People know what to expect from our brands because our brands are world famous, so people know what experience they are going to have when they get there,” said Kafafi.
Intercontinental Hotels Group also operates the world’s largest hotel loyalty program ¬ Priority Club Rewards, where guests earn points or airmiles with any of our 45 partners, everytime they stay at one of our 3,500 hotels around the world. With these they can either get free stays at our hotels or free flights. “Unlike other hotel companies we do not impose any black out dates for these redemptions, nor do we cancel the points if they have not been used for a period of time. That is a real advantage for our customers,” said Kafafi.
