First Holiday Inn Express Hotel Opens In Bocagrande, Cartagena
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] has announced the opening of the Holiday Inn Express Cartagena Bocagrande hotel in Cartagena. The new, 200-room hotel is the second IHG property in Cartagena and IHG’s 12th property in Colombia. A third Cartagena hotel is under construction. The Holiday Inn Cartagena Morros hotel is currently open, and the InterContinental Cartagena de Indias hotel will open later this year. The new Holiday Inn Express hotel is located in the tourist island district of Bocagrande, which is home to numerous shops, restaurants, nightclubs and art galleries. The hotel is also near the main tourist attractions such as the Old City, The Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, Rosario Islands and Cerro de La Popa.
“We are very pleased to introduce the Holiday Inn Express brand to Cartagena in conjunction with Grupo Contempo. Cartagena is now the fastest growing city in Colombia and is currently experiencing an influx of tourism,” said Gerardo Murray, Regional Vice President, Distribution and Commercial Marketing, Mexico, Latin America and The Caribbean for IHG. “Known for providing guests an efficient stay with memorable, yet uncomplicated service, the Holiday Inn Express brand will certainly meet the needs of both business and leisure travelers in the city.”
Reaching 14 floors, the property is included in IHG’s Green Engage program. The hotel offers a 24-hour fitness center with views of the Old City, two outdoor swimming pools, high-speed Internet access included at no extra charge, a business center, meeting spaces and guest parking at no extra charge. The breakfast bar, included with lodging, features breakfast items, including regional and local dishes, a rotation of egg and meat selections, breads, yogurt, juices, fruit, pastries, cereals and coffee.
Located on the northern coast of Colombia, Cartagena, one of the oldest cities in the Americas, was founded by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Heredia in 1533. It is Colombia’s fifth-largest urban area with a population of more than 1,200,000, and a key convention and tourism destination. Cartagena’s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Holiday Inn Express Cartagena Bocagrande hotel is owned by Grupo Contempo S.A. and is IHG’s fifth project with the company in Colombia.
All photos & renderings credit: IHG