InterContinental Hotels Group Dubai Festival City Launch Causes a Stir

As the opening of the new InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) properties at Dubai Festival City this November approaches ever nearer, excitement is growing amongst the employees and management who just can’t wait to get their feet in the door. The iconic developments at Dubai Festival City have been impressive additions to the city skyline, bordering the historic Dubai Creek with constructions of modern beauty. This is the first time these three brands, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental Residence Suites, will be opened simultaneously in the same location. It is the largest project in IHG’s history. Dieter Franke is Hotel Manager of InterContinental Dubai Festival City, Pascal Eggerstedt the Hotel Manager of Crowne Plaza and Steven Greenwood the Hotel Manager of InterContinental Residence Suites. All three are immensely proud of their brand new, modern and luxurious properties and are itching to unlock their doors for the first time.

The 498 room InterContinental and 316 room Crowne Plaza at Dubai Festival City will directly join the Festival Waterfront Centre, providing guests the facilities of a shopping centre on their doorstep. While also the residents of the mixed-use development Dubai Festival City will be in direct proximity to a range of dining options of a world class standard within walking distance of their homes. InterContinental Residence Suites Dubai Festival City combines long stay apartments in a prime location of Dubai with the facilities and the world-renowned service InterContinental hotels are known for. Also bordering the Creek the 212 extended stay apartments at InterContinental Residence Suites Dubai Festival City consist of studios, one, two and three bedroom residences.

As well as talented and extremely enthusiastic, the new workforce at InterContinental’s new hotels is a diverse and multicultural team. A worldwide search for the best employees for each role meant that the 1,279 employees are made up of 45 nationalities. As the completion date approaches, and the reservations have begun coming through, the newly appointed and eager IHG staff are ready for business and raring to go. Watch this space for further progress on these exciting new developments, as Area General Manager Tom Meyer, who oversees the entire project, prepares for the biggest launch of his career,

“It is an absolute pleasure to be a part of such a monumental project that InterContinental Hotels Group is about to launch at Dubai Festival City and to lead such a formidable team as this. Every measure has been taken to ensure these hotels will add much value to Dubai, in terms of scenic attraction, quality restaurants and impeccable service. InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental Residence Suites will certainly set a new standard for the hospitality industry, and as such is a very humbling experience to be a part of. It simply makes me dizzy to think of what is yet to come!”

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) of the United Kingdom [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 3,700 hotels and more than 558,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. IHG owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands, including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites® and Hotel Indigo®, and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club® Rewards, with over 31 million members worldwide.

The company pioneered the travel industry’s first collaborative response to environmental issues as founder of the International Hotels and Environment Initiative (IHEI). The IHEI formed the foundations of the Tourism Partnership launched by the International Business Leaders Forum in 2004, of which IHG is still a member today. The environment and local communities remain at the heart of IHG’s global corporate responsibility focus.

IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at and information for the Priority Club Rewards programme at .