Revel in modern design paired with unrivaled hospitality in the heart of the Texas Medical Center at the InterContinental Houston – Medical Center. Adjacent to the world’s largest medical center, this AAA Four Diamond property ranks in the top five recommended hotels by TripAdvisor and provides easy access to the city’s top attractions such as NRG Stadium, the Houston Zoo, and Hermann Park with METRORail or rentable Bcycle bikes, within walking distance of the property. Discover Houston’s fine dining, renowned international arts, and famous Museum District. If rest and relaxation is your aim, take comfort in the hotel’s spacious luxury suite or discover the acclaimed Mediterranean flavors and beautiful décor of Safina or crafted cocktails at The Naturalist Café and Lounge that received high praise in regional publications such as Texas Monthly.
“We are excited to welcome guests to an area that is so rich in amenities for the business and leisure traveler,” said Jorge Landa, General Manager of the InterContinental Hotel – Medical Center. In addition to its namesake, the InterContinental Houston – Medical Center is just moments from top attractions that include Hermann Park, the Houston Zoo, the Museum District, NRG Park convention and sports complex, Rice University and Rice Village to name a few.”
The hotel features 18,000 square-feet of executive-level meeting and event space, attracting large-scale gatherings, weddings, and conferences, as well as high profile groups. The property is also the shooting location for popular television shows such as Married at First Sight on Lifetime. The catering menu, led by Executive Chef Harold Ortiz, draws from a “land-meets-sea” Mediterranean cuisine that varies from healthy to indulgent.
“Chef Ortiz has the expertise, creativity, and skill to execute the premier culinary experience guests have come to expect from the InterContinental Houston – Medical Center,” says Doug Kelly, the hotel’s Director of Sales & Marketing. “His experience at some of the best hotels on the IHG roster is proving this to be a seamless transition, and we we’re especially excited with his vision for Safina, which has become a dining destination unto itself.”
The InterContinental Houston – Medical Center has created an environment where feedback is welcomed and has seen improved guest engagement through targeted, open communication between visitors and staff members. The property motivates its team take input to heart, and to let guests know that such participation assists them in making improvements.
Encouraging honest guest reviews as part of an open dialog with their customers has led to more organic and helpful intel and has been a useful tool in driving exposure to potential business channels. At the height of the pandemic, the engaged communication between guests and staff members generated a wave of positive reviews on Tripadvisor, pushing the InterContinental Houston – Medical Center to the top 15 hotels recommended in the Greater Houston region in a matter of months – and ultimately the receipt of a Traveler’s Choice Award, bestowed to the top 10 percent of properties in the world for excellent service. In addition, the hotel has been named the best among InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in the U.S., Canada, and Caribbean in terms of guest satisfaction.
As a hospitality hub of the Texas Medical Center, the hotel is a popular destination for visiting patients and their friends and families, providing top tier service to guests, but with a revised and refined protocol for cleanliness. This methodology, called the IHG Way of Clean, included deep cleaning with hospital-grade disinfectants, face-covering requirements, minimizing or eliminating contact points in areas like check-in, and implementing procedures based on local authorities’ guidance, such as social distancing in public spaces and dining areas. It also prescribes to the IHG Clean Promise and the Houston Venues & Events Task Force Houston Clean pledge, the former partnering with industry leading experts to use science-led protocols and service measures by enhancing the IHG Way of Clean with enhanced protocols.
The property became the first hotel in the world to install the COVID-killing Integrated Viral Protection (IVP) Biodefense Indoor Air Protection Filtration System, developed by hotel owner Monzer Hourani in conjunction with scientists and engineers from M.I.T., Texas A&M University, University of Houston, and University of Texas – Medical Branch. The cutting-edge technology that greatly reduces the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by cleaning the air every 15 minutes, eliminating 99.999 percent of all airborne coronavirus. Already a top stop for international clientele due to the strong pull of medical tourism, these actions further cemented the hotel as a premier destination in the Texas Medical Center for patients and medical staff alike.
“The attention to detail, personal interactions with our guests, an expertly curated food and beverage program and proximity to popular attractions and the world’s largest medical center make the InterContinental Houston-Medical Center a world-class hospitality destination,” said Jorge Landa. “It is our mission to provide a memorable stay at our property and our efforts are paying off with many repeat customers that have come to consider us their home away from home, with hundreds of positive reviews across hotel industry sites and publications.”
