InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), the world’s largest hotel group in terms of rooms, is set to open a new 296-room hotel under the Crowne Plaza brand in Muscat, the capital of Oman, after reaching an agreement with Oman Tourism Development Company SAOC (Omran).
Crowne Plaza already has a presence in Muscat, and three such branded hotels in the country as a whole. The latest addition, Crowne Plaza Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, will be a completely new building boasting extensive meeting and event facilities, including a ballroom. It will also host five restaurants – including one set on the rooftop, male and female Jacuzzi pools, a large fitness area, two swimming pools, and a children’s area.
The hotel will form part of a larger development precinct that is due to be completed in 2016. Situated 10 minutes from Muscat International Airport overlooking a Wadi and parklands, this development will include extensive exhibition space, a business park, and a shopping centre.
His Excellency Nasser bin Khamis Al Jashmi, Chairman of Omran, said at the signing ceremony, ‘Today marks a pivotal milestone in the development of the much anticipated OCEC as we sign with the first hotel operator to handle one of a series of planned hotels to complement this mega project. By formalizing this agreement with our preferred and trusted partner IHG to operate the 5-star facility, we are taking another step forward to establish the Sultanate as a favoured destination for the regional and global meetings and exhibitions industry. Based on our existing relations with IHG, we are confident that they will continue to realise our mission of delivering memorable hospitality assets that have a positive direct and indirect social and economic impact on local communities.’
