InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) continues to grow its presence in Turkey with the signing of its sixteenth hotel in the country and its first in Diyarbakir titled Holiday Inn Diyarbakir – City Center. The 161-room hotel will be converted from an existing building under a franchise agreement with BED Turizm Company, coordinated by POYA Hotel Project Management Company.

Due to open in 2015, the hotel’s facilities will include a gym, spa, bar, restaurant, five meeting rooms on the mezzanine level, and a banqueting area on the roof terrace. The hotel will also feature the Holiday Inn brand’s new open lobby concept, which combines the front desk, lounge area and business centre into one open integrated space.

The existing building has been a main attraction in Diyarbakir since 1980 and the café on the ground floor is already a popular place with locals and tourists alike. The owner of Holiday Inn Diyarbakir – City Center plans to continue on the building’s legacy by ensuring the café firmly remains part of the hotel’s open lobby design, stated a press release.

Yalin Yaltirakli,Development Director, IHG Turkey said, “We’re very excited to be opening our first hotel in Diyarbakir which is a key city for our growth plans in Turkey. The Holiday Inn brand continues to gain momentum across Europe as owners are increasingly taking advantage of development opportunities in expanding business regions that lie beyond a country’s capital.”

Saban Üge, Chairman, BED Turizm said, “We are delighted to be working with IHG to open this great hotel in Diyarbakir. The location is already a focal point in the city and this hotel will truly be a hub for business and leisure travellers alike.”