InterContinental to open in Kuwait next year

InterContinental is set to open in Kuwait in mid-2013, the first venture into the country for the brand.

Work on building the 310-room hotel is progressing, with the property now being topped out.

Michael Koth, director of operations in the Northern Gulf and general manager at InterContinental Regency Bahrain, said: “It’ll be a first time presence of InterContinental in Kuwait, and it’s a very stunning property. With that addition in mid-2013, we will have four properties in the country, across three brands – two Holiday Inns, one Crowne Plaza and one InterContinental.”

He added: “It’s been under construction for about three years, but it took a longer time and slowed down in the beginning of the crisis in 2009. But the building is topped out and they are doing all the cladding now, so we are very confident.”

In Kuwait, Koth said occupancy levels have recovered slightly and currently, “are well above 60%”. He added: “I don’t think Kuwait is seeing very bad times, actually. They are doing very well.”