The STA Podcast ft IHG Hotels &...

“We are almost doubling our Saudi portfolio,” says VP, Operations – KSA

In this episode of The Saudi Tourism Authority Podcast, produced by Connecting Travel, Maher Abou Nasr, Vice President, Operations – KSA, IHG Hotels & Resorts, tells Sarah Hedley Hymers “we are almost doubling our Saudi portfolio – it’s a great market to be in”.

As the first company to manage a branded hotel in the kingdom back in 1975, IHG has a long and strong presence in Saudi Arabia. Now, that portfolio stands at 43 properties, but is set to almost double in the next five years as IHG also diversifies its portfolio and introduces new brands to the country.

“For the longest time we had only three brands – InterContinental, Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza,” says Abou Nasr. “Recently, we've added VOCO and Staybridge Suites, and last year we opened our Six Senses resort in the Red Sea area. But the exciting part is that we're bringing new brands to the country.”

Those new brands include Kimpton, Vignette and, on the mid-range side, Holiday Inn Express.

Previously, the Saudi market was managed by IHG from the outside, but last year an office was opened in Riyadh to support operations in the kingdom.

“It's amazing,” says Abou Nasr. “More than half of the colleagues in the office are Saudis, and the level of passion you see there is just amazing. Everybody wants to play a part in supporting Vision 2030.”

Find out more about IHG’s ambitious expansion plans and other opportunities by tuning into the STA Podcast today.

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