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Holiday Inn Express Cartagena example guest room

“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

Rendering courtesy Grupo Contempo, Palmanova.com

Slated to open in 2018, the Crowne Plaza Medellin hotel is owned by Grupo Contempo S.A.S., which also owns the Holiday Inn Express Bogota. 

Joel Eisemann, chief development officer, the Americas at IHG commented: “Colombia is an important market for IHG in Latin America. We have solidified our presence in Colombia by partnering with outstanding groups such as Grupo Contempo. This is the fifth project we have signed with Grupo Contempo, and we are looking forward to continuing to grow with them. We are extremely enthused about this Crowne Plaza project, which will feature a modern design that is in line with the new, fresh image and direction in which the Crowne Plaza brand is going.”

The Crowne Plaza Medellin offers sweeping views of the city, including a 360° view from the pool bar located on the top floor. The hotel will feature a ground floor restaurant and lobby bar, a flexible 4,500 sq. ft. ballroom and about 1,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, as well as a fitness center, business center and the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage program. 

Alvaro Diago, chief operating officer, Latin America and the Caribbean, IHG said: “We are committed to offering business travelers staying at Crowne Plaza hotels the high-touch amenities and services that enable them to be productive while on the road. We are excited to have a new hotel to meet the needs of these guests, providing them with a well-recognized hotel brand that delivers a consistent guest experience near to Medellin’s domestic and financial entities, manufacturing and production facilities and other businesses.”

Crowne Plaza hotels participate in IHG’s guest loyalty program, IHG Rewards Club. IHG has operated in Latin America for more than 65 years, with 88 IHG-branded hotels open in the region and 27 more hotels in the development pipeline, eight of which will open or have opened recently in Colombia in the cities of Barranquilla, Bogotá, Cartagena, Cucuta and Yopal.

Renderings courtesy Palmanova, Grupo Contempo

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“It is a great accomplishment to open a second Holiday Inn Express hotel in Bogotá,” said Alvaro Diago, chief operating officer, Latin America and Caribbean, Americas, IHG. “We look forward to continuing our strong relationship with Grupo Contempo and thank them for supporting our presence in the country and maintaining our pledge to offer guests the highest quality hotel accommodations and services.”

The Holiday Inn Express brand is one of the largest and fastest-growing hotel brands in the industry, and in order to meet the ever-changing needs of its guests, IHG invested in the $1 billion Holiday Inn Portfolio of Brands’ global relaunch, the largest in hospitality history. The relaunch for The Holiday Inn Portfolio of Brands continues to drive increased quality and consistency across the global portfolio, and new hotels feature a contemporary image with emphasis on arrival and welcome services, guestroom and guest bath comfort and a redesigned logo and signage.

The hotel aims to offer guests a comfortable, yet affordable stay with innovative, preferred guest upgrades to ensure a pleasurable experience with amenities that include an outdoor pool, a 24-hour fitness center, complimentary high-speed Internet access, a business center, meeting spaces for up to 200 people, and complimentary parking. Business travelers will find large desks with ergonomic chairs, and free local and toll free phone calls with voicemail. The complimentary Express Start breakfast bar features a full range of breakfast items, including regional and local dishes, a rotation of egg and meat selections, breads, yogurt, juices, fruit, pastries, cereals and coffee.

“We are proud to welcome this hotel into the Holiday Inn Portfolio of Brands as it is ideal for meeting the needs of the growing business and leisure travel markets in Bogotá,” said Gerardo Murray, regional vice president, Distribution and Commercial Marketing, Mexico, Latin America and Caribbean, IHG. “And as a LEED Gold certified property, this hotel is a model of sustainability and provides both business and leisure guests with a new eco-friendly option in Bogotá’s thriving financial district.”

Owned and managed by Grupo Contempo S.A, the hotel is franchised by an affiliate of IHG. This hotel is the second project to open with Grupo Contempo and Grupo Contempo has two more properties in the pipeline in the cities of Barranquilla and Cartagena.