Texas Border Business –
By Roberto Hugo Gonzalez,
It all started with a letter directed to Mr. Pratiba Kasan from Resaca Investments, Ltd. informing him that Holiday Inn Express and Suites Edinburg had won a distinguish national award from Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) as the new development design award.
Holiday Inn Express and Suites Edinburg/McAllen is part of Oceangate Investments or Ogihotels portfolio that own and operate several hotels within the area and they are: Holiday Inn Express and Suites Edinburg-McAllen, La Quinta Inn and Suites Mission, Comfort Inn Mission, Comfort Suites McAllen, Comfort Suites Brownsville, Hampton Inn and Suites Pharr, and Hampton Inn and Suites Mission.
The company also has upcoming projects like the Holiday Inn and Suites McAllen Convention Center, Holiday Inn Express and Suites McAllen La Plaza Mall\ McAllen Airport, and Homewood Suites Harlingen.
IHG is a global company with 9 hotel brands, with over 4,900 hotels and nearly 674,000 rooms in nearly 100 countries around the world.
The letter was signed by Elie W. Maalauf, the Chief Executive Office of the Americas. “The Holiday Inn Express Edinburg-McAllen was selected as a 2015 IHG New Development Design Award,” he wrote.
He also pointed out that this award is given to hotels that merit special recognition for successfully implementing a new design program during the past year. “The recipients of this award are judged to have improved and updated their properties.” He said, “We also recognize the tremendous effort and commitment of every member of your organization.”
The award distinction was officially announced during the IHG Americas Owners Conference in San Francisco.
Kerry Martin, the General Manager of the awarded property could not be happier. “I manage the day-to-day operations of a fast-paced, high volume hotel.” He said, “I provide the necessary training and support to execute the exceptional level of service that has made Oceangate Hospitality an industry leader.”
Kerry said that their company motto is “People with a Passion”. “We are passionate about providing superior service, passionate about developing our associates into true hospitality professionals, and passionate about serving the communities we are located in,” he said.
He also pointed out that civic involvement is the key for them. “From donating a percentage of our room revenue to the food bank, to operating water stations at the McAllen Marathon and the 9/11 Stair Climb, we’re focused on building lasting relationships within our local communities.”
Their civic activities also include participating with The Edinburg Chamber of Commerce, The McAllen Chamber of Commerce, Beerfest, Mission Pink, The McAllen Stair Climb, The South Texas International Film Festival, and the National Hispanic Professional Organization (NHPO), just to name a few.
He added that currently they have 13 properties throughout Texas, and are developing new hotels. Kerry operates the Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Edinburg with a total of 15 associates.
Holiday Inn Express and Suites is located at 3801 South Closner Blvd. Edinburg, Texas 78539. You can also call them at (210)702-1114 or email to holidayedinburg@ogihotels.com TBB
 as the new development design award.){kind=link}