IHG to open Holiday Inn Aerocity by Feb-March

Inter Continental Hotel Group is all set to open its Holiday Inn property at Delhi Aerocity.The hospitality major is expecting a February-March launch. Douglas Martell, Vice President Operations, IHG South West Asia in an interview with Business Standard said ”We have done everything that we were asked to do. We are very close to getting the clearances. We are hoping to open by February-March. We don’t have any rooms sealed off since we don’t face the runway. We don’t have any challenges that some of our competitors are facing. In Aerocity we are only two or three months behind our deadline. So we are lucky compared to some others who have been 12 months behind their deadline. The location has short term challenges but long term it is a great location.” Overall, the IHG is looking forward to opening three hotels in India with our Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands by the end of 2014. Having recently converted Hilton and Double Tree properties in Delhi into Holiday Inn brands, the hotel group informed that it is still signing management contracts. “ We will see more careful investment in the region moving forward. Good hotel would take three to four years to build. So an astute investor is saying let us build a hotel now because the market is going to be good” said Martell. Even when the hospitality industry continues to reel under economic slowdown and poor sentiment, IHG believes India is still growing market. “One thing that we all learnt is that if India has 5 or 6 per cent growth it is still better growth than a lot of other countries” asserted  Martell. Source :  http://www.indiahospitalityreview.com/news/ihg-open-holiday-inn-aerocity-feb-march/11741