‘It’s the best time to start hotel ventures’

In full recovery of the Pandemia, the Holiday Inn Quito Airport hotel opened its doors in Quito and focuses its offer to the executive segment.

After almost seven years since the beginning of the project, Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), the second largest hotel chain in the world with 5,959 hotels and 886,000 rooms worldwide, officially announced the start of the operations of the Hotel Holiday Inn Quito Airport, which opens its doors on Alpachaca Terminal Avenue, a few minutes from the Mariscal Sucre de Quito International Airport. Juan Carlos Santos, president of the Holiday Inn Quito Airport and Manager of BPO, Hotel promoter, comments on details of this new establishment and expectations in Pandemia.

How did the Holiday Inn Quito Airport project begin and how long did its development take?

After the opening of our first Holiday Inn hotel in Guayaquil in June 2013, we decided to develop a new hotel of similar features near the Airport of Quito Mariscal Sucre. At the end of 2014 the earth and foundation movement began after obtaining the permit corresponding to this stage. Subsequently, due to delays in the final construction permit, the construction of equipment and launched construction in February 2021 could only be completed. Since March several services have been opened and since July it is already open and totally operational.

How much was invested in the construction of this new project and how many work plazas generates?

It represented an investment of more than $ 21 million, financed by totally Ecuadorian capital. It generated, during its construction, employment for more than 500 people, and currently already in operation generates approximately 100 jobs.

In what kind of tourism is this new hotel specializes?

By its location it is initially oriented to the executive segment that travels to Quito and prefers to be located near the airport. Another important segment is the tourist who travels to Galapagos and other destinations and spent the night one or two nights in Quito and after this wishes to be close to the airport.

How many hotels in the chain already work in the country and in the region?

In Ecuador, three Holiday Inn hotels operate: Holiday Inn Quito Airport, Holiday Inn Guayaquil Airport and the Holiday Inn Express Quito. In Latin America and the Caribbean more than 230 hotels work, with more than 40,000 rooms of the range of IHG -owned brands.

How many rooms does the new Holiday Inn Quito Airport have?

125 rooms that include 12 suites, executive floor and 4 bedrooms for people with disabilities.

Did the development of the project have any impact on the Covid-19 pandemic?

Yes, when the pandemic began the construction was ongoing and it had to be suspended for almost 90 days until the authorities allowed the activities again. Additionally, the hotel has had to start operations in a market that is still gradually recovering.

What is the current situation of the hotel sector in the country?

The impact was significant, as has happened globally. But little by little we see a gradual recovery of the sector, including the reopening of some hotels that had to, unfortunately, close their doors. The general occupation is being recovered, in certain cities like Guayaquil in a faster way than others. In our criteria and based on all studies conducted worldwide, the average rate is what will be taken to reach the levels previous to the pandemic.

In full recovery, is it a good time to invest in a new hotel?

Tourism has already lived the worst part of the pandemic. It is currently in a clear and obvious worldwide recovery. It is the best time to start hotel ventures since until the projects are structured and completed its construction and implementation, the hotel market will have fully recovered at levels prior to the pandemic.

What are the expectations of returning to prepaandemics levels, how does the state vaccination plan impact in this regard?

Definitely, the success of the vaccination plan will be an important trigger for the recovery of the tourism sector. We are optimistic and we think that until next year the sector will return to the levels of occupation prior to the pandemic.

What policies are necessary to encourage and recover tourism in the country?

The tourism industry is severely affected in the financial field. Therefore, policies must be designed so that tourist establishments recover their liquidity through tax incentives and exonerations at the state and municipal level, as applied in other countries. On the other hand, stimuli must be generated for private banking to place resources in the tourism sector in preferential installments and rates that allow a full recovery of the investment and employment of such an important industry for our country.