Six Continents Hotels announces 20 new properties for Middle East and North Africa

Six Continents Hotels, the largest hotel operator in the Middle East and North Africa, has confirmed its involvement in the development of 20 new hotels across the region.

This sign of confidence in the Middle East and North Africa was heard by British travel agents attending ABTA, the annual industry conference, in Cairo this week. Six Continents Hotels was one of the principle conference sponsors and is the largest hotel operator in the region with more than 64 InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inns in the Middle East and North Africa.

Danny Barranger, vice president, sales, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Six Continents Hotels said: “We believe there is great potential to attract many more British visitors to this region. Numbers of travellers to the Middle East are, of course down this year and the Middle East has experienced periods of uncertainty before, but the UK market has always proved to be one of the most resilient and supportive. Two million British people travel to the region each year on business and leisure and we’re investing in new hotels for the future and looking forward to helping to develop travel throughout the region.”

The 20 planned new Six Continents Hotels include seven in Egypt alone, where the first two to open towards the end of this year will be the InterContinental Garden Reef Resort Sharm El Sheikh Resort and the Holiday Inn Resort Half Moon Bay in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern province.

Other new developments for the Middle East and North Africa include the InterContinental Hammamet Resort, Tunisia, due to open in Spring 2004 and the InterContinental Aqaba, Jordan, set to open in Autumn 2004.

New Hotels Description opening 2002

InterContinental Le Metropole, Alexandria, Egypt

With just 66 rooms including three suites, the hotel building dates from 1902. The property is ideally located right on the Corniche and in the heart of Old Alexandria. October 2002

InterContinental Garden Reef Resort Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

With 425 guest rooms, this property will feature a 350-seat all day dining restaurant as well as superb leisure facilities, a children’s club and shopping arcade. There will also be a multi-purpose conference area with meeting rooms and fully equipped business centre. November /December 2002

InterContinental Windsor Palace, Alexandria, Egypt 

A seafront hotel with 76 rooms and 10 luxury suites: panoramic views of the Eastern Harbour and just 10 minutes from the airport. December 2002

Holiday Inn Resort Half Moon Bay

Located in the Eastern Province, this hotel offers guests 42 rooms and 60 one and two bedroom villas, as well as fitness and health club. December 2002

2003

Holiday Inn Doha, Qatar

A 136 room hotel. Summer 2003

InterContinental Heliopolis Cairo, Egypt

Part of the largest leisure and retail complex in the Middle East, this multi-purpose 792-room hotel is being built on an area of 750,000 square metres. Included in the complex will be cinemas, food courts, a theme park and a 24-lane bowling alley. 
Summer 2003.

Holiday Inn Heliopolis

This 312-room hotel is 10 minutes from Cairo Airport and Convention and Exhibition Centre. It is an key part of the region’s largest retail and leisure complex, complete with multiplex cinema, Aqua Spa, tennis Courts and two championship golf courses nearby. Winter 2003.

2004

Holiday Inn Resort Taba, Egypt, 176 rooms, Winter 2004.

InterContinental Hammamet Resort, Tunisia, 245 rooms, Spring 2004.

InterContinental Taba Heights Resort, Egypt, 500 rooms, Spring 2004.

Holiday Inn Port Harcourt, Nigeria, 220 rooms, Summer 2004. 

InterContinental Aqaba, Jordan, 260 rooms, Autumn 2004.