IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement with Dana Bay Tourism Company to expand its InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand’s presence in Saudi Arabia.

The InterContinental Al Khobar Dana Bay development aligns with the hotel group’s growth strategy in the Middle Eastern nation.

Best in class

Scheduled to open its doors to guests in December 2024, new property  will be situated within the surrounding beachfront resort of Dana Bay.

Being developed as a best-in-class product, InterContinental Al Khobar Dana Bay will feature 133 luxuriously designed rooms, 90 InterContinental residences, and 36 villas, in addition to offering four dining options, an indoor and outdoor pool, a health club, and a spa. The hotel will also offer a business centre and four meeting rooms, catering to the needs of both business and leisure guests.

Exciting addition

Haitham Mattar, MD, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG said: “ We are delighted to partner with Dana Bay Tourism Company to open InterContinental Al Khobar Dana Bay in Al Khobar City. The concept and quality of the master plan makes this an exciting new addition, not only to the Eastern Province but also to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. IHG has pioneered luxury travel in new destinations for decades and will now bring the allure of travel to Al Khobar as well. For a city that is so rich in culture and heritage, we believe that InterContinental Al Khobar Dana Bay will offer guests a truly unique travel experience. In line with consumer trends, we expect emerging destinations like Al Khobar to become more popular with travellers who are seeking new and unique experiences. 

“We are also honoured to expand our hotels further in Saudi Arabia to align with the country’s Tourism Development Strategy – Vision 2030. With 37 hotels operating across five of our core brands in Saudi Arabia, we look forward to welcoming guests to the newest addition to our portfolio, as it comes to life in the coming years.”

Three-phased plan

Abdulmohsin Al Rashed, chairman, Dana Bay Development, added: “We are pleased to partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, to bring the renowned InterContinental brand to Dana Bay. The resort is part of a three-phased plan, the first of which includes a waterpark that was completed in 2020. Dana Bay is the largest waterfront development in Eastern Province and most popular. I am confident that our partnership will be a huge success as we cater to the needs of the modern business and leisure travellers visiting the city of Al Khobar.”

IHG has a strong presence in Al Khobar, with an InterContinental, a Crowne Plaza, voco, Staybridge Suites and three Holiday Inn hotels. Nationwide, IHG currently operates 37 hotels across five brands in Saudi Arabia, including: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites and voco with a further 31 hotels in the development pipeline due to open within the next three to five years. This includes InterContinental Dammam, adding 289 keys in Q1 2024; the 192-room Crowne Plaza Taiba Riyadh scheduled for delivery in 2025; and Hotel Indigo Jeddah bringing 267 keys online in 2028.

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