IHG?(InterContinental Hotels Group) has opened?Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb?in the heart of capital?s new business district, making it the third IHG hotel in the city. Brought to the city by Action Hotels, the opening marks the return of the one of the world?s most recognised hotel brands to Oman.
The hotel is located within ten minutes? drive of Muscat International Airport and next to the new centres of business and government, perfect for business travellers on a tight schedule or families looking for a convenient stay in the serenity of Al Seeb. The hotel is also close to some of the capital?s most popular tourist attractions, an easy journey away for business travellers with some downtime between meetings or leisure travellers wanting to explore Muscat?s best sites, including Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the traditional souqs at Seeb and Muttrah and old Muscat.
The modern and sleek hotel has 185 rooms, each with a 32-inch LED TV, an iPod docking station and access to free Wi-Fi services. A comfortable workspace in the rooms offers a relaxing and spacious environment, with views over the outdoor pool and terrace area. The hotel?s ballroom, boardroom and meeting rooms offer flexible spaces for customised events and meetings, catering for up to 250 people.
Guests have a choice of restaurants: the all-day dining restaurant Omede provides international cuisine throughout the day and the Halwa Lounge Caf? offers guests a real taste of Omani drinks and delicacies. Additionally, Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb operates Holiday Inn Hotels and Resort?s ?Kids Stay and Eat Free?* programme, making travelling with all the family easier to manage. Guests looking to unwind after a long day will enjoy the hotel?s gym and outdoor pool facilities.
Oppenheimer Pinto, General Manager, Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb commented: ?The team are very excited to be welcoming guests to Oman?s newest hotel. With our close proximity to the airport and to the attractions of Old and New Muscat, the hotel is a great place to stay whether you?re here for business or leisure.?
Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb marks the re-entry of the renowned brand to Oman. In 1977, Oman was the home of the first Holiday Inn property in the Middle East with Holiday Inn Resort Salalah, before the property was converted to Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah.
Holiday Inn Al Seeb is owned by Action Hotels plc, and is the inaugural partnership between IHG and Action Hotels.
Alain Debare, Chief Executive of Action Hotels plc, added: ?We are pleased to announce the successful opening of our first hotel development with IHG and are proud to become part of the Holiday Inn family, reintroducing to Oman a market leading international brand with a strong heritage in the region.
?We see significant opportunities in the Middle East for the mid-scale hotel market, with the growth of intra-regional low cost airlines making travel easier and more affordable than ever before.? Hotels play an important role in their contribution to local economies, and IHG?s reputation as an investor in people is a key driver behind Action Hotel?s investment in the brand.?
Pascal Gauvin, IHG?s Chief Operating Officer, for India, Middle East and Africa commented: ?Oman played a key role in the launch of the Holiday Inn brand in the Middle East region so it is fantastic to be able to bring the brand back to a country where it has so much history. With tourist numbers to Oman on the increase we are confident that Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb will offer a comfortable and quality option for visitors to Muscat, and play a key role in the city?s future too.?
This hotel will become IHG?s sixth hotel in Oman, and joins two other IHG properties in the capital:?InterContinental Muscat?and?Crowne Plaza Muscat.? There are more than 1,200 Holiday Inn hotels around the world, with another 263 in the global pipeline.