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IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), whose roots in the Colombian hotel market stretch almost six decades, today announced that it has signed a 15-year management agreement for a new-build, full-service Holiday Inn in Cartagena, Colombia.
The Holiday Inn Cartagena, scheduled to open in June 2011, will be IHG’s seventh property in Colombia, and the 46th Holiday Inn brand property within the company’s Latin America & Caribbean region (38 open, 8 under construction). IHG currently has two Holiday Inn hotels in Colombia: the Holiday Inn Express Bogota and the Holiday Inn Express Medellin.
The hotel is owned by Sundacer S.A.S., a division of Cartagena-based Conceptos Urbanos S.A., a respected real estate development firm in Colombia. It will be IHG’s second project in Cartagena, the other one being the 280-room InterContinental Cartagena, currently under construction.
Boasting panoramic views of the city, the 12-story, 140-room Holiday Inn Cartagena will be located in the northern section of the city, five-miles from the Rafael Nunez International Airport and seven miles from the Old City of Cartagena. The oceanfront hotel will be nestled within Los Morros, a luxury residential complex and one of the most upscale portions of Cartagena.
To the north, the hotel will overlook the beautiful Caribbean Sea. Directly South lays the famous water canyon, Cienaga de la Virgen, boasting spectacular views to protected indigenous mangroves. To the west, the hotel will overlook the Old City of Cartagena, named an UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical value.
The property will showcase the brand’s new sign, which is the seal of approval that this hotel exemplifies the standards of the $1 billion Holiday Inn brand relaunch program. The Holiday Inn brand relaunch is the largest in the history of the hospitality industry, with more than 3,400 hotels around the world being updated – improving quality and driving consistency at Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels around the world. The global estate is expected to be relaunched by the end of 2010, and more than 2,600 hotels have been already been relaunched to date.
The relaunch focuses on the things research shows matter most to guests – a modern, contemporary hotel with efficient, friendly service and a great night’s sleep. Relaunched hotels such as the Holiday Inn Cartagena feature:
- Upgraded and decluttered lobby areas
- A Holiday Inn Express signature scent and sound
- New exterior lighting and landscaping
- New signage with the redesigned logo
- All Holiday Inn employees also go through an extensive "Stay Real" training program to ensure guests receive the level of service they expect
The Holiday Inn Cartagena will feature 4,000 square feet (372 square meters) of meeting facilities, which includes five conference rooms and two boardrooms, along with amenities such as a state-of-the-art fitness center, an infinity swimming pool, restaurant, lobby bar and coffee shop.
“We are delighted to begin a long-lasting relationship with Sundacer S.A.S. and bring the first Holiday Inn hotel to the wonderful city of Cartagena,” said Alvaro Diago, Chief Operating Officer, IHG Latin America and the Caribbean. “Cartagena is certainly a high-potential market as its business and tourism sectors continue to flourish. A property like the Holiday Inn Cartagena is important in helping us expand our consumer base in the city and across the country.”
Conceptos Urbanos S.A. has 20 years of experience in the development of large-scale projects within Cartagena, having managed the development of both commercial and residential projects such as Paseo de la Castellana, Edificio Casablanca and Edificio Castillo del Mar. The company is recognized as a leader in the development of Cartagena’s popular northern section, known as ‘El Corredor de la Boquilla,’ with projects such as Boquilla Marina Club, Morros 1, and Morros Vitri.
“We look forward to the new hotel opening and our partnership with IHG,” said Waleska Avendano, a spokesperson for Sundacer S.A.S. “The property combines Holiday Inn’s strong brand recognition in Latin America with IHG’s extensive hotel management expertise, and we are confident that it will be well received in Cartagena.”
Located on the northern coast of Colombia, Cartagena, one of the oldest cities in the Americas, was founded by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Heredia in 1533. It is Colombia’s fifth-largest urban area with a population of more than 1.2 million, and a key financial center. Its unique old world charm and modern infrastructure center has made Cartagena one of Colombia’s most successful cities.
IHG has nearly 190 hotels in Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean, and has been serving Latin America for 64 years. IHG has hotels situated in nearly every key market throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
