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IHG LAUNCHES AVID, A NEW MIDSCALE BRAND early 2018 and the first hotel is anticipated to open in early 2019. Keith Barr, Chief Executive Officer, IHG, said, “With 14 million potential customers looking for the type of hospitality avid hotels will offer, this new hotel brand represents a significant growth opportunity for IHG and our family of owners.”
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has revealed its new high-quality midscale brand, avid™ hotels, alongside a brand logo and renderings of the hotel exterior, public space and guest rooms. First introduced to owners at the IHG Americas Conference in June, avid hotels is now franchise ready for the U.S. market. More than 150 owners have already expressed interest in the brand. IHG expects the first avid hotels to begin construction in
Elie Maalouf, chief executive officer, IHG, The Americas, added, “Our extensive consumer research and conversations with owners identified a clear opportunity to reach an important set of business and leisure travelers in a vastly underserved USD 20 billion segment of the U.S. midscale market. We applied our insights, expertise and scale to deliver an experience that features modern and stylish designs, superior guest rooms and public spaces and great service – all at an excellent value.” ihg.com
LE BRISTOL HOTEL IN BEIRUT NOW MEMBER OF PREFERRED HOTELS & RESORTS After a recent USD 30 million facelift, Le Bristol Hotel has taken another bold step toward becoming a global entity by partnering with Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Commenting on the partnership, Claudio Roscigno, regional MENA director of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, explained, “We are the world’s biggest network of independently-owned hotels, with 651 entities spread throughout 86 countries, and Le Bristol Hotel is the first in Lebanon to become a member. We specifically chose this hotel because it has the biggest historical heritage in the country, so the choice of venue for us was clear from the get-go.” The added value this partnership brings is unique, according to Franck Royer, general manager of Le Bristol. “On the one hand, the hotel will gain global recognition and higher visibility, which previously it did not have within a network of quality establishments.
Claudio Roscigno of Preferred Hotels & Resorts with Franck Royer of Le Bristol
On the other hand, our clients will now have the possibility of joining our iPrefer hotel rewards program, which has over two million registered members who benefit from points redeemable for cash-value certificates, elite status, special rates, amenities and benefits,” he explained. lebristolbeirut.com
INTERCONTINENTAL JORDAN WINS CLEF D’OR
Mohammed Mehyar, Les Clefs D’or
InterContinental Jordan added a new award to its already expanding collection from different entities and institutions that have recognized the hotel for its outstanding services and exceptional standards. Mohammed Mehyar, who works as a concierge supervisor at InterContinental Jordan, has become part of the Clefs d’Or in a move that acknowledges his efforts and hard work. Mehyar has been a member of the InterContinental Jordan family since 2007. Les Clefs d’Or is a global organization, found in 35 countries. ihg.com OCT-NOV 2017 | HOSPITALITY NEWS ME
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