IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s leading hotel companies has today announced the opening of Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace in partnership with DUR Hospitality. The 304-room hotel adds to the growing portfolio of IHG hotels in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace is strategically located in the Ministries Quarter, a popular business district that is close to major Saudi financial institutions and Government offices. The hotel is conveniently located 15 minutes from King Fahd Stadium and the King Fahd Cultural Centre, and is less than 30 minutes’ drive from King Khalid International Airport, making it easily accessible for visitors to the city. Productivity and rejuvenation go hand in hand at the Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace, which is redefining the business travel experience and offering a comprehensive range of facilities to meet the needs of corporate and MICE travelers. For those in town on business, the hotel features five meeting rooms spanning 1,400 sqm and a dedicated team to execute seamless events. With free Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel, the guests can stay connected to their business or home. Additionally, the 24-hour business center is fully equipped with the latest technology and amenities, providing a great working space to the hotel guests. During downtime, guests can enjoy the hotel’s outdoor pool, Club Lounge or rejuvenate and relax at the spa. The guests staying at the hotel can keep their workouts on track at the well-equipped fitness centre. At the end of a busy day, guests can sleep better with help of the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage System, which includes a relaxing aromatherapy kit and ultra-soft premium bedding, so that they are more alert, productive and energized the next day. Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace offers exceptional dining options, including 24-hour room service, to guests staying at the hotel for business or leisure. Guests can enjoy an array of delectable food options at the poolside restaurant, while soaking up the sun or spend time at the lobby lounge for a casual business meeting or relaxing with friends over afternoon tea.

Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG said: “We are delighted to announce the opening of the Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace. Tourism is an integral part of Vision 2030 as the country endeavours to attract more foreign visitors as part of the economic diversification strategy. As a result, the hospitality landscape is developing at an astonishing pace and we are keen to take advantage of this massive opportunity. We are delighted to be working with a reputed industry player such as Dur Hospitality and look forward to extending true hospitality to our guests staying at Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace.”

Hassan Ahdab, President of Hotel Operations Dur Hospitality added:  “We are proud to build on our existing partnerships with IHG, who clearly understand the Saudi market and have a proven track record of success here. This opening demonstrates our shared confidence in the future growth of the Saudi tourism sector and we have no doubt that Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace will add significant value to the city’s hospitality offering.”

The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts announces the appointment of Golden Horse Award Winning Chinese actress Zhou Dongyu as the newest Global Explorer in China.  As the first female Chinese Global Explorer appointed by the brand, Zhou joins other well-known tastemakers from around the globe including designer, producer and actor Waris Ahluwalia, supermodel, photographer and creative director Helena Christensen, designer Margherita Maccapani Missoni, and graphic designer and creative director Sofia Sanchez de Betak. As one of the most well-respected actresses in China, Zhou Dongyu’s naturally graceful composure has won her critical acclaim in film and with Chinese audiences in a variety of roles including the girl-next-door Jingqiu in Under the Hawthorn Tree and the rebellious heroine Ansheng in Soul Mate, winning her the prestigious Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress. As an ambassador for The Luxury Collection, Zhou traveled to Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto to shoot a video for the brand, sharing her thoughts on travel and how exploring different indigenous cultures impacts her personal life as an actress. Through her role as a Global Explorer, Zhou will continue to share a fresh and unique Chinese perspective on the brand’s captivating destinations when she travels to locales in China and Europe later this year. Her personal insights and travel tips will be compiled into a travel journal, exlusively available to The Luxury Collection hotel guests around the world. “Appointing our first Chinese female Global Explorer underscores the importance of the Chinese market to us, and this partnership with Zhou Dongyu marks our effort to enhance the brand’s image among the next generation of Chinese travelers. Zhou shares our passion for seeking quintessential travel experiences that showcase the true spirit of a destination, and we are excited to be collaborating with her,” said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, The Luxury Collection. “I frequently travel for my job and prefer hotels with distinct nature and style that inspire me while I’m working,” said Zhou Dongyu, “Every Luxury Collection hotel tells a story that is inextricably linked to its destination which allows guests to become even better connected with the city they’re in. I’m so excited to be a part of the Global Explorer program!” The Luxury Collection’s Global Explorer program celebrates the vibrancy of the world’s most enchanting destinations through the eyes of leading cultural voices. Representing a broad selection of creative endeavors, these personalities are united by a deep understanding of world cultures, while identifying travel experiences in their own personal way. The brand recently debuted the launch of its second collaboration with Global Explorer Sofia Sanchez de Betak – a capsule collection of dresses, jackets and kimonos inspired by her travels with The Luxury Collection in Japan. The Luxury Collection is dedicated to helping travelers from all over the world to embark on extraordinary journeys and one-of-a-kind experiences. “The Luxury Collection is continuously seeking global explorers who want to engage in visual storytelling that helps to showcase what makes each destination in the portfolio so unique. Today’s global luxury traveler defies traditional stereotypes, moving far beyond the notion of ‘time’ being the ultimate luxury. The next generation of Chinese guests are seeking international experiences and advice from travelers who truly understand and personify experiential luxury,” said Bruce Ryde, Asia-Pacific Vice-President for Luxury Brands and Brand Marketing at Marriott International. The Luxury Collection brand boasts a collection of over 100 of the finest hotels and resorts in more than 30 countries and territories, a broad spectrum of geographic locations that enables globetrotters to stretch their lives with authentic and indigenous experiences. The brand now has seven outstanding properties in cities across China, including Shanghai, Nanjing, Sanya and Changsha. The pipeline includes four additional Luxury Collection hotels in Nanning, SanyaHaitang Bay, Suzhou and Xiamen. About The Luxury Collection® Hotels & Resorts The Luxury Collection®, part of Marriott International, Inc., is comprised of world-renowned hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world’s most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination’s indigenous charms and treasures. Originated in 1906 under the CIGA® brand as a collection of Europe’s most celebrated and iconic properties, today The Luxury Collection brand is a glittering ensemble, recently surpassing 100 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts in more than 30 countries and territories. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world’s finest. For more information and new openings, visit theluxurycollection.com or follow Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. The Luxury Collection is proud to participate in the industry’s award-winning loyalty program, Starwood Preferred Guest®. Members can now link accounts with Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® at members.marriott.com for instant elite status matching and unlimited points transfer. Note on Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws, including the number of lodging properties Marriott International may add in future years and similar statements concerning possible future events or expectations that are not historical facts.  We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in market conditions; changes in global and regional economies; supply and demand changes for hotel rooms; competitive conditions in the lodging industry; relationships with clients and property owners; the availability of capital to finance hotel growth and refurbishment; and other risk factors that Marriott International identifies in its most recent annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q; any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations we express or imply here.  We make these statements as of the date of this press release, and we assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.