IHG signs agreement for first Holiday Inn in Mauritius

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, has signed a new franchise agreement with Airport Hotel Limited that will see the Old Manor House at Plaisance Airport become Holiday Inn Mauritius – Plaisance Airport. The 140 room property will be the first Holiday Inn to open in Mauritius and will join IHG's InterContinental Resort Mauritius which opened in 2009.

The agreement is a response to the need for a hotel at the airport driven by the ongoing growth of the tourism market in Mauritius. The country has seen a three-fold increase in passenger traffic since 1990. Located just 700m from Plaisance Airport, the hotel will help service the increased passenger traffic through Mauritius Airport as it continues to expand into a global business, leisure and tourism hub.

Jacques Marrier d'Unienville, Chief Executive Officer, Omnicane Limited commented: "With a new terminal at Mauritius Airport in the pipeline, the need for an airport hotel has never been greater. With Holiday Inn, we know we will be delivering a reliable, quality service to visitors to Mauritius. IHG's consideration for the local environment and the unique qualities of the site such as its mature botanical diversity has also impressed us, and we are delighted to be partnering with them on this exciting project."

The 20 year licence agreement will see IHG redevelop the 3 acres site. The hotel and its grounds will be developed in keeping with traditional Mauritian vernacular in its design and character. Creative use of decorative steelwork combined with hardwood timber shutters and pergolas brings out a distinctive local 'feel' to the architecture.

Harnessing the local biological diversity of the site, the landscape proposal retains the majority of the existing trees and foliage in the garden while a roof garden on the third floor brings the guest relaxation areas closer to the natural environment. Sustainable design initiatives in the hotel will include taking advantage of the natural ventilation in the living areas as well as the use of low-eglazing to reduce air conditioning loads. Using locally sourced building material as well as use of local stone and timber further helps to further reduce the building's carbon footprint.

Pascal Gauvin, IHG's Chief Operating Officer, for India, Middle East and Africa commented: "Mauritius is continuing to see an increase in visitor numbers and with that, an increased demand for a range of accommodation options. With Holiday Inn, we are responding to this demand by catering to the mid-scale market and offering a global brand that people know and trust. A Holiday Inn at the airport is a perfect complement to our InterContinental Resort Mauritius which opened in 2009, and we're delighted to be expanding in this market."

Facilities at the 131 standard and 9 executive rooms hotel will include a gym, a spa, a bar lounge and terrace, a swimming pool, restaurant as well as five meeting rooms and a large banqueting room with a break out area into the garden.

This hotel will become IHG's second hotel in Mauritius, and joins InterContinental Resort Mauritius at the Bay of Balaclava. There are more than 3,000 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels around the world, with another 695 in the global pipeline. Holiday Inn recently completed a USD 1 billion global refresh.