Holiday Inn express Jumeirah opens in Dubai

The hotel is the third Express property to open in Dubai and the second to open under the brand's new name following last year's announcement of the worldwide relaunch of the Holiday Inn brand family.

Holiday Inn Express Jumeirah has 193 modern and spacious rooms, with comfortable beds, a unique pillow menu option to ensure guests get a great night's sleep and enhanced en-suite facilities which include a power shower. The hotel also provides a fitness centre, restaurant, a bar and two meeting rooms.

Commenting on the opening, John Bamsey, Chief Operating Officer, IHG, Middle East and Africa (MEA), said: "Holiday Inn Express delivers an uncomplicated hotel experience, perfect for seasoned business travellers, families and large groups - and these customers are a growing market in Dubai."

"Holiday Inn Express Jumeirah is our third Express property to open in the MEA, region, underscoring our goal to be the leading provider of quality affordable accommodation in the region. We have ambitious plans and are well placed to take advantage of the high demand for limited service hotels." Bamsey concluded

Holiday Inn Express Jumeirah is close to Dubai's major business districts as well as shopping malls and the beach, ensuring that the needs of both business and leisure travellers are met.

Sami Al Ansari, Ishraq's Chief Executive Officer, Ishraq Gulf Real Estate Holding BSC, said: "As one of the world's fastest growing destinations, Dubai is an important market for the Holiday Inn Express brand, bringing in millions of business and leisure tourists each year. Together with IHG we plan to retain our position as the region's leading provider of limited service accommodation, through the extensive roll-out of the Express brand across the Middle East region."

Holiday Inn Express is the world's largest limited service hotel brand and growing exponentially. Since its launch in the Middle East in 2007, Holiday Inn Express has pioneered the limited service concept in the region, offering competitive pricing, quality accommodation for both business and leisure travellers and the reassurance that an international brand brings.

Across Europe, Middle East and Africa there are 183 Holiday Inn Express hotels, providing more than 21,000 rooms, with a further 54 properties in the development pipeline.

Holiday Inn Express Jumeirah will be operated by Ishraq Hospitality Management, a subsidiary of Ishraq Gulf Real Estate Holding Co., the exclusive developer of Holiday Inn Express hotels in the GCC, excluding Saudi Arabia.

The $1bn relaunch of the Holiday Inn brand family (comprising Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express and Express by Holiday Inn) will bring improved consistency and service levels, as well as a more contemporary brand image and identity, to almost 3,200 hotels worldwide. The global relaunch was announced in October 2007 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2010. As part of this process all Express by Holiday Inn hotels will become Holiday Inn Express properties to create global consistency. In the interim period as the hotels implement the relaunch both the existing and new Holiday Inn brand family identities will be used.