Bass Hotels & Resorts Signs First Ever Multi-Brand Management Agreement In Tunisia
World's Leading Hotel Group to Manage New Inter-Continental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Properties
ATLANTA -- Bass Hotels & Resorts
The unique agreement creates another new location for Bass Hotels & Resorts, which operates more than 2,800 hotels in more than 90 countries and territories, and is now committed to boosting Tunisia's stature as a travel and business destination.
"This is a landmark agreement for Bass Hotels & Resorts, and highlights our ability to operate a multi-branded range of properties under a single, consolidated corporate structure," commented David Bland, managing director for Bass Hotels & Resorts in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
"It is a vivid demonstration of how the Inter-Continental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn brands – each with their own distinct identities and market sectors – provide consumers and developers alike with the element of choice."
The new hotels, to be known as the Hammamet Inter-Continental Resort, the Crowne Plaza Tunis and the Holiday Inn Resort, Hammamet, are all owned by the Poulina Group, a leading specialist in Tunisia's tourism industry.
"We're delighted to have signed this agreement with Bass Hotels & Resorts," said Abdelwahab Ben Ayed, chairman and CEO of the Poulina Group. "In forming a new relationship with the world's leading hotel group, we will enjoy many benefits, including the company's regional strength, global reach and expertise in managing a variety of complementary brands."
The new Inter-Continental and Holiday Inn hotels, scheduled to open towards the end of this year, are both currently under construction in the new integrated resort of Yasmine Hammamet, blending a popular tourist resort with a residential development. Yasmine Hammamet features a 740-ship capacity marina, theme park, casino, two golf courses, white sandy beaches and the old city of Medina.
With 20 suites and 233 spacious double rooms, the Hammamet Inter- Continental Resort will be a prime venue for conventions and seminars, offering a multi-purpose conference room, as well as a 300-seat main restaurant, 200-seat a la carte restaurant, large terrace and American bar. Other facilities include a fitness club, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, beach bar, tennis courts and childrens' club, while the hotel's large circular patio gives access to a sea-front shopping mall.
The Holiday Inn Resort, Hammamet, with 23 suites and 271 rooms, has a 250- seat main restaurant, 120-seat a la carte restaurant and multi purpose meeting room. Other facilities include a fitness club, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, beach bar and private beach for relaxation, coffee shop and shopping arcade.
With construction work to begin shortly, the Crowne Plaza Tunis has a prime water front location in the capital's expanding new business district. The 200-room hotel will open within three years.
Raymond Khalife, president, Bass Hotels & Resorts, Middle East and Africa commented: "Tunisia will benefit from our ability to attract major new business, leisure, conference and incentive traffic into the country through the Bass Hotels & Resorts worldwide reservations system, and global network of hotels and reservations offices."
The Tunisian agreement closely follows Bass Hotels & Resorts' establishment of Cairo as its regional headquarters for the Middle East and Africa, in a global reorganisation of the company's corporate structure to reinforce its position as the world's leading hotel group.
Bass Hotels & Resorts currently operates 106 Inter-Continental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn properties in the Middle East and Africa, with another 33 under development in the region.
Note: Bass Hotels & Resorts(R) [LON:BAS, NYSE:BAS (ADRs)], the hotel business of Bass PLC of the United Kingdom, operates or franchises more than 2,800 hotels and 450,000 guest rooms in more than 90 countries and territories.
The following are some of the service marks owned by Bass Hotels & Resorts, Inc., its subsidiaries or affiliates: Holiday Inn(R), Crowne Plaza(R), Holiday Inn Express(R), Holiday Inn Select(R), Holiday Inn Garden Court(SM), Holiday Inn SunSpree(R) Resorts, Staybridge Suites(R) , Holidex(R), Priority Club(R) Worldwide, Inter-Continental(R), Forum(R), and Six Continents Club(R).
Bass Hotels & Resorts, Inc. offers information and reservations capability on the Internet - , www.interconti.com for Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts, www.crowneplaza.com for Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts, www.holiday-inn.com for Holiday Inn hotels, for Holiday Inn Express hotels, and www.staybridge.com for Staybridge Suites.
Melanie Brandman
Bass Hotels & Resorts
212-983-7145
