3 minute read
Five questions for IHG executive Mauro Leone
5 QuestioNs For MAuro LeoNe
area general manager of intercontinental hotels group, Png
The Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) is represented by the Holiday Inn & Suites, Holiday Inn Express and the Crowne Plaza Residences in Port Moresby.
Q: How has business been this year?
A: There’s no doubt, quarter one provided a rocky start, because we were hoping to continue the great business of providing (COVID-19) quarantine facilities. 2021 was a record year for us. All the Port Moresby hotels did very well. But as of February 1 (2022), all quarantine just about stopped. Fast forward to quarter three and we did a mid-40 per cent occupancy in the Holiday Inn Express, which is fantastic given the hotel had been closed for two years. A major driver (of guests) for the Express is derived through the Kokoda Trail arrivals, which look to return in March 2023. October was a record month for the group. Our Crowne Plaza Residences
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did mid-90 per cent occupancy, the Holiday Inn did mid-80 per cent. We think business is going to continue well …
Q: There are signs that the planned Papua LNG project is starting to influence the economy.
A: The recent project briefings (see our story previous page) showed the different project development phases, and it looks like it starts to ramp up in quarter four of 2023. And that’s only one project we’re talking about. If all the anticipated projects come onboard, we are not going to have enough rooms or apartments in Port Moresby. In 2011, during the PNG LNG boom, there was a shortage of accommodation, triggering construction which then led to oversupply. But if all the projects that are on paper come to fruition, it’s going to be another 10 years of growth.
Q: The Crowne Plaza Residences are in a great location. What kind of people are you appealing to with that property?
A: It’s the serviced apartment market: about 80 per cent of our guests there are long-term. We have two- and three-bedroom apartments (some facing the ocean). We have a fully equipped gym, with state-ofthe-art conferencing facilities. And we have the Port Terrace Restaurant, which undoubtedly has the best sunset view in Port Moresby.
Q: What plans are there to revamp the Holiday Inn precinct?
A: The business centre on the ground floor of the Holiday Inn & Suites will be replaced with a ‘Grab and Go’ cafe. The existing Kopi Haus Restaurant will be refurbished. We’re adding a wood-fired pizza oven from Italy and an Argentinian grill. We are now in talks to open a beer garden too. This should all be done by early 2023.
Q: IHG has a very strong loyalty program, IHG One Rewards, which must be a big selling point.
A: There is no doubt that part of our success was due to our loyalty program, IHG One Rewards. If you look at most people coming into Port Moresby for work, they have to stay somewhere, and you might as well earn points while you’re staying. Our guests use their points in over 6000 hotels globally.
