The InterContinental Hotels Group's Middle East sales office recorded a 75 percent revenue increase in the first quarter of 2004, generating three million dollars since January. Some 67 percent of this revenue is being driven into InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels and resorts in the region.
"2004 has so far marked an extraordinary 39 percent positive variance on the year's forecast, which means solid and strategic factors are behind this staggering growth," said Director of Global Sales, Middle East, Mara Campi at a recent meeting held in Amman, Jordan.
Growth came from all segments, and mainly from conference and incentive business. Following last year's trends, the major volume of traffic came from Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Lebanon, with the most popular overseas destinations being the UK and France.
As in 2003, hotels in Dubai, Cairo and Beirut enjoyed the biggest share of inter-regional business. InterContinental Hotels Group properties in Saudi Arabia have also witnessed strong growth this quarter with corporate travel taking up 60 percent of total bookings in the Kingdom.
InterContinental Hotels Group of the United Kingdom owns, manages, leases or franchises more than 3,300 hotels and 515,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of hotel brands including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn, Express by Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites, and also has a controlling interest in Britvic, the second largest soft drinks manufacturer in the UK. — (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
