IHG announces the opening of two Holiday Inn Express hotels in Pune in partnership with SAMHI Marks the brand debut in the city 

Pune, India, 1 March, 2019:

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world’s leading hotel companies today announced the opening of Holiday Inn Express Pune Pimpri and Holiday Inn express Pune Hinjewadi. The occasion also marks the debut of the Holiday Inn Express brand in Pune. Both hotel offer guests the right combination of convenient location, comfort, efficient service, and intelligent design to help them accomplish their travel goals.

Holiday Inn Express Pune Pimpri and Holiday Inn express Pune Hinjewadi together feature 246 well-appointed, contemporary rooms, providing an inviting and efficient environments to the guests. Each room includes handy amenities such a wall-mounted flat screen TV, comfortable beds and an iPod docking station with clock radio. Additionally, both the hotels are centrally located with excellent connectivity and will emerge as the preferred choice for travelers seeking comfort and a hassle-free stay in the city.

Set in the heart of Pimpri Chinchwad, Holiday Inn Express Pune Pimpri is surrounded with major technology company’s hubs such as Bhosari, PCMC, Talwade, Dapodi, Chakan and Talegaon MIDC and is in close proximity to shopping centres like Pimpri Central, Big Bazaar, PVR Cinema, with a variety of dining options nearby. The hotel is 1-km away from Pimpri Railway Station and 15-kms from Pune Junction. The hotel also offers easy connectivity to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

For an express start to the day, guests staying at both hotels can enjoy a hearty breakfast that is included in the rate. In line with its commitment to offer consistent connectivity, the Holiday Inn Express hotels will offer free high-speed internet in all rooms. The hotels also feature a ‘Great Room’ for guest to socialize and unwind at the end of a long day. Furthermore, both hotels will offer a 24 hour health and fitness centre as well as an on-site laundry service for the added convenience of the guests.

Commenting on the announcement, Vivek Bhalla, Regional Vice President, SWA, IHG said, “We are delighted to debut the Holiday Inn Express brand in Pune with the opening of two Holiday Inn Express hotels from our partnership with SAMHI. Over the past few years, both Pimpri Chinchwad and Hinjewadi have emerged as fast-growing city hubs with impressive infrastructure development and therefore serve as an ideal choice for the brand foray into the market. The simultaneous opening of the two Holiday Inn Express hotels in Pune strengthens our commitment to the market and our ambition to spearhead the midscale hotel segment in the country.”

Ashish Jakhanwala, Founder, MD & CEO, SAMHI added, “We started this journey with IHG in 2017 when we signed an agreement for 14 Holiday Inn Express hotels in India. With two Holiday Inn Express opening in Pune, under the portfolio, we are very excited and pleased with the momentum the brand is building in the country. Holiday Inn Express is a powerful offering that combines great design, strong service culture and strategic locations, and therefore, we are confident that the newly opened Holiday Inn Express Pune Pimpri and Holiday Inn Express Pune Hinjewadi are well positioned to cater to the business as well as leisure travellers visiting the city.”

IHG and SAMHI entered a partnership in 2017 to rebrand 14 hotels (approximately 2000 rooms, operating and under construction) to Holiday Inn Express hotels. The hotels under the portfolio are being renovated and upgraded with the latest design directives, to ensure the portfolio is fully representative of the Holiday Inn Express brand globally.

Holiday Inn Express recently launched a new brand campaign in India, centered around ‘More Than Ready’ , a platform which aims to empower 25-35 years’ travelers, who as road warriors look for added advantages to accomplish their travel goals.