26 November 2014 – InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world’s largest hotel companies, has announced the opening of Holiday Inn® Ankara Çukurambar; the first Holiday Inn® hotel in Turkey to implement the brand’s trend setting Open Lobby.
IHG unveiled its inaugural Open Lobby – at Holiday Inn® London – Brentford Lock in November 2012 and this innovative public space now features in a total of nine Holiday Inn hotels across Europe.
Operating under a franchise agreement with Aska Otomotiv ve Petrol Urunleri Tic A.S. the 140 – room Holiday Inn Ankara Çukurambar officially opened its doors on 4 November. Facilities include a 660m2 banquet room and multiple meeting rooms, a relaxing spa, gym, bar and restaurant. The hotel is perfectly positioned close to ministerial offices and government headquarters in Çukurambar; the business district of the Turkish capital Ankara.
This opening is the latest step forward for IHG in Turkey where, so far in 2014, IHG has signed two hotels and opened a further three*.
The Holiday Inn Open Lobby takes a unique approach to the in-hotel experience for guests, which has transformed the traditional hotel lobby format by combining the front desk, lobby, restaurant, bar, lounge area and business centre into one open, cohesive space, while refreshing the design to give it a more contemporary feel. The Open Lobby has been established by understanding how people use space at home in order to give guests the most flexibility, whether they’re looking to eat, relax, work, or have fun in one integrated space.
The Holiday Inn Open Lobby reflects the findings of the 2013 IHG Trends Report1, which revealed the emergence of a new breed of business travellers who are not constrained by traditional office working routines and don’t necessarily work the typical 9-5 hours. Dubbed the ‘laptop and latte’ workers, they prefer creative coffee-house-style environments where they can be inspired by meeting other travellers while they work on their own laptops and smart phones. The 24/7 To Go Café (proudly serving Lavazza coffee in Turkey) forms part of the Open Lobby, and has been designed to give guests the flexibility to eat in, eat out or enjoy take-away items in their rooms.
Yalin Yaltirakli, Director of Development, Turkey and CIS, IHG said: “Holiday Inn is the most recognised hotel brand in the world. With the introduction of new innovative features such as the Open Lobby, the brand continues to resonate with our guests and our owners.”
Birol Dogan General Manager, Holiday Inn Ankara Çukurambar said: “The Open Lobby is proving a popular place for guests and local residents. It perfectly meets both the needs of business travellers looking to hold a meeting in an easily accessible location and leisure visitors looking for a place to unwind.”
Every Holiday Inn features signature bedding that includes a pillow menu, as well as meeting and on-site business facilities, free breakfast and a Kids Stay and Eat Free programme.
There are currently 283 Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts in Europe with a further 33 in the pipeline*, part of a network of 635 IHG hotels across Europe with a further 106 in the pipeline. Guests can book rooms at all of these hotels now at the IHG website www.ihg.com.
IHG’s broader family of nine brands in nearly 100 countries 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 over 82 million members. It is free to join at www.IHGRewardsClub.com.
* Figures as at 30th September 2014
1 The new kinship economy: From travel experiences to travel relationships. A report commissioned by InterContinental Hotels Group and The Futures Company (March, 2013).
