Holiday Inn Express OMR

Holiday Inn Express opened another of its doors in Chennai a little over three weeks ago. It is an international hotel brand situated on Rajiv Gandhi Salai, better known as the Old Mahabalipuram Road. Located 20 km away from the airport, it's a boon for both business and leisure travellers. Holiday Inn Express has a partnership with the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) which manages the hotel and is owned by Duet India Hotels. It's a brand that is known for quality, service and good value and ensures the traveller has an uncomplicated stay.

(L)Naveen Jain; Shantha de Silva

At the formal inauguration on April 22nd 2016, Mr. Shantha de Silva, Head of South West Asia, IHG told us the property is the fourth one managed by the group in Chennai.

Mr. Naveen Jain, President, Duet Hotels said the JV was signed 5 years ago and since then, Chennai has the distinction of being the only city that hosts all 4 brands of Duet Hotels - Crowne Plaza Chennai and InterContinental Hotel Mahabalipuram Resort, Holiday Inn Express Mahindra City and now, the 8-storey Holiday Inn Express OMR.


Mr. Ranjan Malakar, Area General Manager for Central India and Holiday Inn Express hotels in SW Asia spoke about the various amenities the hotel provides. The hotel has a great location and functional meeting rooms. It offers complimentary high speed wifi services to all its guests. Complimentary Express Start breakfasts are offered and for those who need to rush out for early morning meetings, they have an option called 'Grab and Go' where they can take off with a simple packed breakfast. To ensure the guest has a comfortable stay, all 136 rooms offer comfortable beds with a choice of firm or soft pillows. All this adds value to the guest's stay. Mr. Abishek Verma, the GM of the hotel then invited us to have a look at the rooms.

Art on the wall

Thirst quencher - hospitality at the Holiday Inn Express

The lobby (that's the reflection of the chairs on the front desk); lobby store 

Self service business centre

The inauguration was held in the conference room and from there, we went around into the foyer and took the lift to the lobby on the first floor. The business centre is also located here and is accessible all hours of the day.

The bar

Great Room - all day restaurant 

But first, we were welcomed into the restaurant, Great Room which is open 24x 7. At one end is a cosy bar. All along one side are the buffet counters and seating is arranged in the middle of the room. Glass light fixtures in various shapes, lengths and colours brighten up the space. The soft furnishings and the lamps seem deliberately mismatched but they give the room a stylish and contemporary atmosphere.

Chicken soup; veg dimsum

Soup and appetisers were served at the table and included steamed vegetable dumplings. They are about the best I've had in recent times, the wrapper was thin and they went perfectly well with a red chilli dip.

More appetisers - sauteed corn; chicken with hoisin sauce; dahi kebab

Buffet counters

Chaat corner

Salads

A selection of  food from Asia Kitchen

Vegetarian specials, Thai green curry (R) is delicious.

Desserts

The food is from Asia Kitchen, and is mostly Indian, Asian and some European. There's also salads, chaats and of course, desserts.

Chocolate cake with ice cream

Holiday Inn Express OMR, has 131 rooms and 5 suites. The rooms are cosy and furnished with comfortable beds and the bathrooms have power showers. The suites have larger fridges while the other rooms have the standard size bar fridges. There's also a fitness centre with treadmills and weights and a laundry room, both can be accessed any time of day or night.

Even if you are not staying at the hotel, you can have a meal at Great Room. Breakfast is 395/++, lunch 595/++ and dinner 695/++. Both buffet and a la carte are available.

Holiday Inn Express OMR is at Chemmencherry, Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Sholinganallur, Chennai. It is located opposite Sathyabama University.
Phone: 044 4295 6699.