May 4 – The InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) is looking into bringing its boutique hotel brand, Hotel Indigo, to the Middle East market, said Kirk Kinsell, IHG President of EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa). “For the time being, we have looked at a few opportunities in the Middle East. We would not rule out bringing Hotel Indigo to the Middle East,” he added talking about launching new brands in the region.
Currently, there are only brands of IHG that are not found in the Middle East — Candlewood Suites and Hotel Indigo. While the former is only present in the North American market, IHG introduced Hotel Indigo to the European market last year, the first being in London. “We have a number of signings for Indigo which we have done across Europe and many in the UK,” said Kinsell.
There are about 36 hotel projects in the pipeline under IHG’s umbrella, all of which are due to open in the next three to four years. “About 50 per cent of these are already under construction,” said Kinsell. He also said that revenues from the Middle Eastern market are expected to increase this year. “However, with Saudi Arabia being a big strong driver in this part of the world, 25 per cent of all the room nights in the Middle East are generated out of that market. So the stronger we are in Saudi, the more it helps out network,” he added.
