InterContinental Hotels turns spotlight on new 'Star' in $600 million Cairo development

InterContinental Hotels Group has confirmed the summer opening of a stunning new property at the heart of a US$600 million development combining shopping, entertainment, office and residential facilities in Cairo.

The 792-room InterContinental Heliopolis Cairo, Egypt’s fifth InterContinental hotel and the 34th in the Middle East, will be introduced to the regional travel trade at Arabian Travel Market taking place in Dubai from May 6 – 9.

The hotel is part of Citystars Heliopolis Cairo, the largest project of its kind in the Middle East and one supporting the Egyptian government’s efforts to create a more modern and vibrant business environment. The Citystars development includes the third largest retail and leisure complex in the  world outside North America, with 470 shops, 16 cinemas and a family entertainment centre, as well as 350,000 square metres of office space and 450 premium apartment units.

Chris Moloney, newly-appointed by InterContinental Hotels Group as Chief Operating Officer, Middle East and Africa, said: “We already have a  substantial stake in Egypt, so we are proud to be part of a project which reinforces the potential of the tourist, retail and property sectors of the Egyptian economy.”

Opening in July, the InterContinental Heliopolis Cairo offers 792 superbly furnished guest rooms, suites, and apartments. Guests can choose from 73 poolside rooms as well as 184 apartments in the InterContinental Residence Suites tower. Ideal for extended stays, the studio, one, two three and  five-bedroom apartments all offer pool and garden views.

Business executives also have the option of 82 Club InterContinental rooms and 11 suites, with the added benefit of a Club Lounge, private check-in, business centre and secretarial services.

Diners can pick from ten restaurants and bars offering a variety of cuisine, including Japanese, Lebanese, Italian, and seafood. There is also a casino and nightclub. The hotel boasts a large Aqua Spa and Wellness Centre, including outdoor swimming pools for adults and children, a multi-sports area and personal spa activities.

For corporate events, product launches and weddings, the hotel presents Cairo’s largest banquet hall, with room for up to 2,200 people, as well as 16 conference and banqueting rooms with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment.

“Like InterContinental hotels around the world, we’ll be offering a host of new service initiatives,” said the hotel’s General Manager, Thomas Hilberath. “These include fitness centres and business centres open 24 hours a day,  and laundry and dry cleaning services also available round the clock."

Just ten minutes from Cairo International Airport and 20 minutes from the  city’s downtown district, the hotel is within easy reach of major attractions like the Pyramids and the Sphynx, the medieval Citadel, with its mosques and museums, as well as the city’s old Islamic quarter and the Khalily Bazaar, famous for old world shopping.

The Citystars project also includes the Holiday Inn Heliopolis, which is due to open at the end of the year, as is the InterContinental Resort Soma Bay on Egypt’s Red Sea coast.