The Bite Magazine - Autmn/Winter 2020 - Issue 28

I nterContinental Hotels Group has signed a manage- ment agreement with Gránit Pólus Group to rebrand a compelling property as Crowne Plaza Budapest in 2021. The new hotel will join a variety of other estab- lished brands, InterContinental, Holiday Inn, and Holiday Inn Express, to further expand the company’s presence in Hungary. With a more digital, mobile and connected concept, Crowne Plaza Budapest offers modern business travellers the perfect blend of business-ready services and celebratory cocktails to finish a tiresome day. The 230-room hotel offers a range of facilities, from 13 meeting rooms to a café and lounge club. It is located close to the downtown business district, within walking distance to the international railway station linking Buda- pest to major European cities. Crowne Plaza Budapest is also conveniently adjacent to one of the capital city’s largest shopping centres for those looking for some downtime. “The power of our enterprise really shines through when we see great signings such as Crowne Plaza Buda- pest,” commented Mario Maxeiner, Managing Director for IHG Northern Europe, Russia, CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), and Georgia. “It shows that even in the current environment, there remains great appetite from our owners to join the IHG family as the strength, resilience and attractiveness of our brands is highly prom- inent.The reputation of IHG’s brand portfolio has resulted in several great growth opportunities, with high-quality conversions to our leading brands like Crowne Plaza.This property is the first of the brand to enter the Hungarian market, and we’re confident that Crowne Plaza is going to fit perfectly amongst our other brands and help us grow our presence in this country.” Miklós Gyertyánfy, Asset Management Director of Gránit Pólus Group, said, “It is our greatest pleasure to crown the 20th birthday of Westend City Centre with such an announcement as we believe that now is the right time to rebrand this hotel. It is also a great honour to welcome Crowne Plaza to Hungary [for] the first time ever, and to find such [an] experienced partner with an impec- cable international reputation as the InterContinental Hotels Group. Given the central location ofWestend City Centre, we are confident that Crowne Plaza Budapest will become a vibrant hotspot for business travellers and tourists once the Covid-19 pandemic is resolved. In the spirit of this project, Gránit Pólus Group will dedicate more than €10 million to renovate the hotel with its 230 rooms in the following two years.” www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels bitetravel IHG Debuts Crowne Plaza Brand in Hungary’s Capital City