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.

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.

* 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.