IHG Hotels and Resorts has signed an agreement with Mediterranean Investment Group to open its first hotel in Albania.
Crowne Plaza Durres is set to open in 2024 in the coastal city of Durres, located west of the capital city Tirana on the Adriatic Sea. It will form part of the city’s new waterfront investment project, which will also see the arrival of a new cruise terminal, marina, green spaces and cycle routes.
Nearby attractions will include the Archaeological Museum, Byzantine Market Square and Roman Amphitheatre, all of which are a 15-minute walk from the hotel, plus the sandy Broad Durresi Beach.
The 140-room hotel will include a restaurant, bar and lounge, meeting rooms, and wellness facilities such as a spa, fitness centre and indoor swimming pool.
Willemijn Geels, Vice President Development Europe, IHG Hotels and Resorts, commented:
“Albania represents a key entry market for IHG Hotels & Resorts and we are delighted to be partnering with Mediterranean Investment Group to open the Crowne Plaza Durrës, Albania. There is a great deal of scope to bring further IHG Hotels & Resorts brands to the Balkans, and we are actively looking at new opportunities to build on our presence there. Our Crowne Plaza brand has already proven to be highly successful in Belgrade, Serbia, and we look forward to introducing it to the Albanian market as we look to grow across the Balkans.”
Gazmend Haxhia, Board Member of Mediterranean Investment Group, added:
“IHG Hotels & Resorts presented a compelling partnership opportunity to open Crowne Plaza Durrës in a city which is experiencing high growth and investment levels. We believe that the Premium Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts brand caters perfectly to the current leisure demand and growing interest from corporate travellers choosing to visit Durrës. We look forward to opening the hotel during a major new investment period for Durrës in partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts.”
Meanwhile, Hilton is also set to open its first Hilton Hotels and Resorts property in Albania with a hotel located in its capital city in 2023.
IHG’s Crowne Plaza brand operates 420 properties around the world, with almost 100 hotels in its development pipeline.
