IHG, Bukhamseen Group sign an exclusive agreement in Kuwait
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has signed an agreement with Bukhamseen Group Holding Company, a Kuwaiti business conglomerate, to build and operate IHG hotels exclusively in Kuwait. Under the terms of the agreement, IHG will expand its brand portfolio and hotel footprint in the market in an exclusive collaboration with the group.
Founded in 1957, Bukhamseen Group Holding Company is a multinational organization with business interests in tourism and hospitality, food and beverage, banking, education, engineering, finance, insurance, real estate as well as retail. Based in Safat, Kuwait, the group has operations in several markets in the Middle East including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Syria and Lebanon.
On this same day, 40 years ago, Jawad Bukhamseen signed the first agreement with Charles Wilson, the founder of Holiday Inn chain of hotels. IHG currently operates three hotels in Kuwait in partnership with Bukhamseen Group — Crowne Plaza Al-Thuraya City, Holiday Inn Al-Thuraya City and Holiday Inn Salmiya. Additionally, the newest venture located adjacent to the Crowne Plaza Al-Thuraya City and Holiday Inn Al-Thuraya City, is the InterContinental Al-Thuraya that is currently under construction and is due to open in 2019.
The agreement grants country wideexclusivity (Kuwait) to the Bukhamseen Group for a 10-year term and covers six IHG brands, including InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Resort, Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites.
Alan Watts, Chief Operating Officer, Asia, Middle East and Africa, IHG said: “We are pleased to be signing an exclusive agreement with our long-term business partner — Bukhamseen Group, for further hotel development in Kuwait. With this signing, we look forward to increasing the momentum of our growth in the country and continue our endeavour to deliver great guest experiences to guests visiting Kuwait.”
Pascal Gauvin, Chief Operating Officer, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG said: “Our relationship with the Bukhamseen group goes back over three decades, and together we have established a strong presence for IHG in Kuwait, with three operational hotels and one under construction.”
Jawad Ahmed Bukhamseen, founder and chairman of Bukhamseen Group, said: “We have had a rewarding relationship with IHG over the last 30 years. It is our pleasure to strengthen this association further through an exclusive agreement which will allow us to continue to deliver hotels of international standard in Kuwait and cater to the guests looking for a truly local, Kuwaiti experience.”