InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world’s largest hotel companies has announced the signing of Holiday Inn Express® Istanbul – Halkali. The hotel, due to open in 2014, will be the first internationally branded limited service hotel near Istanbul International Airport.

The 110-room hotel will operate under a franchise agreement with Liv Yapi Gayrimenkul Yatirim. The property, overlooking the main street on the Basin Express Highway, will feature a number of meeting rooms and the brand’s signature Great Room, where guests can enjoy a complimentary Express Start® breakfast.

The hotel’s excellent location near Istanbul International Airport is easily accessible to both business and leisure guests looking for a comfortable yet affordable night’s stay. The hotel is also well placed to receive guests from the CNR Expo, International World Trade Centre and Olympic stadium located nearby.

Yalin Yaltiraki, Director of Development, Turkey, IHG commented: “The Holiday Inn Express brand is designed to be the smart choice for value-conscious travellers. This hotel is the only one of its kind in the airport’s vicinity and, together with its prime location, is set to receive a steady stream of guests visiting Turkey. We are delighted to be working with Liv Yapi Gayrimenkul Yatirim and welcome this hotel into our portfolio.”

Seda Aydın, board member of Liv Yapi Gayrimenkul Yatirim AS said: “This is the start of a great relationship with IHG. We’re very proud to be bringing a Holiday Inn Express hotel to Istanbul’s International Airport. We look forward to giving business and leisure travellers, airline crew and passengers a warm welcome when we open our doors.”

Launched in 1991, the Holiday Inn Express brand is one of the largest and fastest growing brands in the hotel industry, opening hotels at a rate of two per week on average. There are currently 219 Holiday Inn Express hotels open in Europe and 38 in the development pipeline.

IHG’s broader family of nine brands in nearly 100 countries and territories meets the needs of guests, whatever the occasion – whether an overnight getaway, a business trip, a family celebration or a once-in-a-lifetime experience. All IHG hotels participate in IHG’s guest loyalty programme, IHG® Rewards Club which is the industry’s first and largest guest loyalty programme with nearly 79 million members.