Holiday Inn and EStars opens gaming pods at Saudi hotels

Image via EStars

Holiday Inn has partnered with educational esports company EStars to introduce dedicated gaming spaces at four hotels in Saudi Arabia.

The Elite Gaming Pods have opened at Holiday Inn Riyadh Business District, Holiday Inn Riyadh Al Malaz, Holiday Inn Jeddah Corniche and Holiday Inn & Suites Al Khobar.

Each hotel has two pods equipped with MSI gaming PCs, next-generation consoles, curved monitors, gaming accessories and ergonomic seating. Guests can access games including

Fortnite, Rocket League and Overwatch at no additional cost.

The installations opened on August 16 and are expected to remain available until December 2026.

Holiday Inn and EStars also plan to organise tournaments, community events and influencer activities at participating hotels. Prizes will include hotel stays, dining experiences and IHG One Rewards points, although a competition schedule has not yet been announced.

EStars founder and CEO Mags Byrne welcomed the launch in a LinkedIn post.

“I am absolutely delighted to see this partnership between EStars and global leaders in hospitality IHG Hotels & Resorts,” she said. “The Elite Gaming Pods at Holiday Inn offer both guests and visitors a unique and special gaming experience with so much more to come.”

The project marks the first phase of a broader collaboration between the companies, with educational programmes and other esports activities also under consideration.

Locations

• Holiday Inn Riyadh Business District

• Holiday Inn Riyadh Al Malaz

• Holiday Inn Jeddah Corniche

• Holiday Inn & Suites Al Khobar

EStars is an educational esports provider that develops gaming-based learning programmes and works with schools, communities and industry partners to create pathways into esports and related careers.