InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the appointment of Haitham Mattar as Commercial Director Near East.

Mattar will be moving from his current role as Director of Marketing IHG MEA based in Dubai to Beirut where he will oversee the commercial function for IHG’s hotels in Lebanon, Libya, Egypt, Jordan and Syria. In addition, he will assume the role of Area General Manager-Lebanon, leading operations for InterContinental Mzaar Lebanon Resort and Spa, Crowne Plaza Beirut and Holiday Inn Dunes Beirut.

Commenting on Mattar’s new role, Tom Rowntree, Vice President Commercial, Middle East and Africa said, “In his new role as Commercial Director Near East, Haitham’s responsibilities will be to develop and implement regional business growth strategies and ensuring alignment with the group’s sales, marketing, PR and revenue activities.”

Mattar added, “My goal will be to strengthen IHG’s presence in the region, by supervising the functions and ensuring strategic alignment in key areas of business. There are great opportunities for growth in the area and I am looking forward to supporting the hotels in realizing this potential going forward.”

Mattar started his career in the hotel industry 22 years ago in the USA and his last post in the country was in Orlando, Florida with a well known international hotel brand as Operations Manager. In 2000, he joined the IHG group as Director of Sales and Marketing InterContinental Dubai. During his nine years with IHG, Mattar has received several accolades; “Best Performance” award in 2005 and “EMEA Local Marketing Activity of the Year” award in 2006. He was also nominated for the “Aim Higher” award in 2007.

About IHG

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 4,100 hotels and more than 600,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®, and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club® Rewards with 40 million members worldwide.

IHG's portfolio within the UAE numbered 12 properties as of 30 September 2008, comprising three InterContinental, three Crowne Plaza, three Holiday Inn and three Express by Holiday Inn hotels

IHG has more than 1,700 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 200,000 jobs worldwide over the next few years.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards programme at www.priorityclub.com. For the latest news from IHG, visit our online Press Office at www.ihg.com/media

Joanne Zarifé
Assistant PR & Communications Manager

INTERCONTINENTAL MZAAR LEBANON MOUNTAIN RESORT & SPA
Ouyoun El Simane, Kfardebiane
P.O. Box: 30 Reyfoun - Lebanon

Tel : +961 (0) 1 792111 Ext.1104
Fax : +961 (0) 1 795661
Email : joanne.zarife@icmzaar.com
Website: www.intercontinental.com

This release was published on openPR.