San Jose is a vibrant cosmopolitan city that serves as a major transportation hub to many other beautiful regions of Costa Rica.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, has announced that the Holiday Inn Express San Jose Airport in Costa Rica has opened.

The 100-room property is the fourth IHG hotel in San Jose, joining the Real InterContinental Hotel & Club Tower Costa Rica, Crowne Plaza Corobici San Jose Costa Rica and the Holiday Inn Aurola San Jose. The hotel is also the first Holiday Inn Express to open in Central America. In addition, IHG announced last month that Hotel Indigo will be coming to Costa Rica in early 2009, which will mark IHG's fifth brand in the city of San Jose.

A conversion property formerly known as the Garden Court hotel, the Holiday Inn Express San Jose Airport has been fully renovated. The hotel is showcasing the brand's new sign, which is the seal of approval that this hotel exemplifies the standards of the $1 billion Holiday Inn brand relaunch program.

First announced in 2007, the relaunch program was established to create a more contemporary brand image, increase quality and drive consistency. The global estate of more than 3,200 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties is expected to be relaunched by the end of 2010.

Ideally situated a half-mile east of the Juan Santamaria International Airport, the Holiday Inn Express San Jose Airport is surrounded by various dining and entertainment venues. The two-story hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, a fully equipped business center and a fitness room.

"We are extremely proud to be opening the first Holiday Inn Express in Central America, which also happens to be IHG's first airport property in Central America. We are pleased to add another hotel to the dynamic city of San Jose," said Alvaro Diago, Area President of IHG, Latin America.

"Rising metropolitan cities like San Jose present IHG with opportunities for expansion within the Central America region, especially now that an increasing number of business and leisure travelers are visiting from all over the world. Brands like Holiday Inn Express are ideal for these global travelers, who are looking for modern and affordable accommodations."

San Jose offers a spectacular setting, surrounded by soaring mountains on all sides, some of them volcanoes. It is the country's capital and largest city and has a population of approximately 350,000.

It has flourished into a truly diverse city with a bustling economy. San Jose is considered to be one of Latin America's greatest destinations for foreign travelers. It offers a wide array of activities and leisure attractions including museums, art galleries, theaters and nightlife venues.

The hotel is owned and managed by Grupo Marta San José Garni S.A., under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group. Specializing in a variety of real estate investments and developments, Grupo Marta San José Garni S.A. is considered to be one of the most respected companies in Costa Rica.

"We are delighted to open this hotel together with IHG, as the company has some of the most world-renowned brands in the hotel industry," said Agustin Puig, President of Grupo Marta San José Garni S.A. "We are excited to open this hotel as a Holiday Inn Express, one of the most preferred modern-day hotel brands and the fastest growing brand in the industry."