Express brand celebrates Euro milestone
Express by Holiday Inn is celebrating its 10th birthday this year.In 10 years the brand has experienced phenomenal growth, and now
attracts over 4.5 million guests a year across Europe.
Globally Express by Holiday Inn offers guests a choice of over 1,500
properties, and after the brand’s success in the US, Europe has now followed
suit. From welcoming its first guest in 1996 in Strathclyde, Scotland,
there are now over 165 hotels in 12 European countries providing
accommodation in cities as far flung as Prague, Alicante, Lisbon, Lille,
Krakow, and Belfast.
Over the last ten years in Europe a new Express by Holiday hotel has opened
every 22 days, offering both business and leisure guests an ever increasing
number of destination choices. This rate of expansion is set to continue
throughout its 10th anniversary year and beyond, with 13 hotels due to open
in 2006, adding over 1,300 additional rooms in prime locations across the
continent.
There are 34 further hotels scheduled to be built over the next few years,
with a recent announcement that 11 more Express by Holiday Inn hotels will
be developed in France over the next five years, with more European
announcements imminent.
Express by Holiday Inn was launched in Europe to meet the demands of both
business and leisure travellers seeking simplicity, quality and value for
money. Every guest enjoys modern, relaxing facilities including a power
shower and complimentary continental breakfast to help start their day.
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Cementing its reputation amongst business travellers, the Express by Holiday
Inn brand has been voted the ‘Best Budget’ hotel chain by readers of
Business Traveller magazine, every year since 2000. Every Express by Holiday
Inn offers meeting facilities through its ‘Meet Smart’ programme, and all
bedrooms are equipped with internet access.
The popularity of the brand is endorsed by the number of guests who keep
coming back, with one even staying every week for the last ten years at the
Express by Holiday Inn Strathclyde! Last year, there were also nearly
250,000 Priority Club Rewards members welcomed at Express by Holiday Inn
hotels across Europe.
The brand is not just a hit with guests, but also very attractive to
franchisees. It has become a blueprint for the franchise model, with over
93% of the hotels in Europe successfully operating this way. Many of these
are multiple franchisees with interests in more than one hotel in the brand.
Robin Wicks, chief operating officer, Holiday Inn Brands Europe said: “The
Express by Holiday Inn brand has led the market in both guest and investor
preference since its launch in Europe 10 years ago. Over the next 10 years
we will continue to lead and to innovate, bringing the Express by Holiday
Inn experience to more guests and more investors who want quality and
reliability at an affordable price.”
InterContinental has also been nominated this year for a
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World Travel Award as World’s Leading Hotel Brand.
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