IHG and Panorama Sport Hotel AS have agreed to bring a new Holiday Inn to Zilina, Slovakia. Construction of the hotel is already underway and the 126 room Holiday Inn Zilina is due to open in January 2007.

Zilinia is 200km from Slovakia's capital of Bratislava and is strategically located half way between Bratislava and Kosice – the country's second largest town.

Slovakia's main industry is car production and its related automotive supplier business with Zilina at the heart of this. A global car manufacturer has recently chosen to develop a production plant in Zilina. The Holiday Inn Zilina will therefore be a welcome addition, providing accommodation for this growing industry.

Holiday Inn Zilina is also located near to a large sports stadium, skiing areas and nature reserves, so the hotel will also attract leisure visitors to the area.

The hotel will feature the 'La Grande' restaurant, the 'Toscana' coffee shop and a bar. Facilities also include a fitness centre complete with indoor swimming pool and a selection of gift shops.

Robin Wicks, Chief Operating Officer, Holiday Inn Brands Europe, commented: "Holiday Inn Zilina is IHG's third hotel in Slovakia and its first outside of Bratislava. Its opening will bring IHG's room count in Slovakia to 463 and is another step towards achieving IHG's global goal of adding 50,000 to 60,000 rooms on a net and organic basis across all our brands by the end of 2008. IHG also has two more signed deals in the pipeline for Slovakia with a 107 room Holiday Inn in Trnava and a 176 room Express by Holiday Inn at Bratislava Airport."