InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a management agreement with Bougary Holding Co. to develop Crowne Plaza Makkah Beban.

Scheduled to open in December 2019, the new hotel comprising 1,200 rooms will be world’s largest Crowne Plaza and will be a landmark hotel for IHG.

Strategically located in close proximity to the Holy Mosque, the hotel will join the existing InterContinental and Holiday Inn in the city and cater to the influx of pilgrim visits expected as part of Vision 2030.

IHG is the largest international hotel group in Saudi Arabia, both by number of hotels and number of rooms, and the latest signing is aligned with the company’s strategy to expand its footprint in the kingdom.

Crowne Plaza Makkah Beban boasts a host of facilities including two restaurants and a coffee shop, a business centre and three meeting rooms (3,323-sq-m in total) to cater for a range of meetings and events.

Pascal Gauvin, managing director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG said: “Saudi Arabia offers great opportunities both in terms of domestic and inbound tourism and is central to our expansion strategy in the Middle East. We have a strong legacy in the kingdom and are proud to collaborate with Bougary Holding Co, represented by CEO Loay Bougary, to bring the world’s largest Crowne Plaza to the country. This is a milestone signing for us in the Middle East and is testament to our commitment to the market."

Bougary added: "We are proud to partner with a strong global player such as IHG on this milestone development. IHG is a trusted brand with in-depth knowledge of the kingdom and Crowne Plaza Makkah Beban will bring a full range of amenities to pilgrims and other travellers looking for a high-quality hospitality experience. We look forward to welcoming guests to the world’s largest Crowne Plaza in 2019.”

IHG currently operates 23 Crowne Plaza hotels across the Middle East, with a further six due to open in the next three to five years. - TradeArabia News Service