Erawan Building Holiday Inn on North Beach Road in Pattaya, Thailand
SINGAPORE, August 31, 2006. InterContinental Hotels Group today announced the latest addition of Holiday Inn Pattaya to its rapidly expanding portfolio in Thailand. The 367-room hotel is scheduled to open at the end of 2008. It will mark the award-winning Holiday Inn brand's entry to Pattaya, a popular resort city less than two hours by road from capital city Bangkok and an hour's drive from the new Suvarnabhumi international airport.
Situated along the beach front, on the bustling North Beach Road, the hotel will offer panoramic views of Pattaya Bay and is a stone's throw away from the city's thriving tourist belt. Holiday Inn Pattaya will be the perfect venue to unwind and enjoy Pattaya's diverse range of water sports, leisure attractions, shopping and trendy nightlife.
Holiday Inn Pattaya is owned by The Erawan Group, a well-established real estate holding company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, with a strong track record in commercial and hotel developments.
Pattaya's strong appeal as a holiday destination is reflected in the significant increase in tourist arrivals. In 2005, more than 5.3 million tourists visited the resort city, up 6.4% over the previous year. This provides a strong base for Holiday Inn Pattaya. In addition, there will be opportunities to dynamically package this hotel with other InterContinental Hotels Group properties in Bangkok, Phuket and Cha-Am.
"Extensive investment into tourism-related developments in recent years has given Pattaya a completely new appeal, and this is attracting travellers from all over the world. We are confident that Holiday Inn Pattaya will be well positioned to benefit from the tremendous opportunities for further growth in this dynamic resort city," said Kasama Punyagupta, president & chief executive officer, The Erawan Group.
"InterContinental Hotels Group is pleased to be part of the rapid developments taking place in and around Pattaya. With the new Suvarnabhumi international airport, travel time to Pattaya will be significantly reduced and this will further attract both local and international leisure and business visitors," said Jan Smits, chief operating officer, Southern Asia, InterContinental Hotels Group Asia Pacific.
Holiday Inn Pattaya will offer guests a home away from home, with high standards and wide range of services and facilities delivered in the warm and friendly manner synonymous with the Holiday Inn brand. A centrepiece of the hotel's stunning architecture is the 18-storey cantilevered guest tower. All rooms and suites will have unobstructed views of the sea and beach as well as contemporary design features including an open-concept bathroom. The hotel will also have a health club, an infinity pool and a "floating" spa overlooking the pool terrace.
While its key focus is families and leisure travellers, the meeting and conventions market will also be catered to. The hotel will offer a dedicated function floor with a 450-seat ballroom as well as two function rooms, a boardroom and a business centre.
Guests at the hotel will be able to choose from a remarkable range of dining facilities offering both international and local cuisines. This includes a lively beachfront restaurant as well as an all-day dining restaurant overlooking the infinity pool. In addition, a casual guest corner located near the lobby will offer a deli and sandwich bar, takeaway gourmet coffees, retail section and wireless Internet access.
Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts has been named Best Mid-Market Hotel Brand in Asia Pacific and Best Mid-Market Hotel Brand in the World by readers of Business Traveller Asia Pacific for five consecutive years since 2001. Holiday Inn Pattaya will join InterContinental Hotels Group's current portfolio of five hotels across Thailand. The Group's sixth hotel in the Kingdom, the Holiday Inn Resort Regent Beach Cha-Am, is scheduled to launch in October.