Summary: InterContinental Jerusalem has confirmed Eyal Goldberger as General Manager and Galit Heller-Halfon as Director of Sales & Marketing ahead of a late-summer opening; the property will join Virtuoso and represents Jerusalem’s first new luxury hotel in more than a decade.

InterContinental Jerusalem has revealed the leadership that will run the city’s newest luxury hotel as it prepares to open later this summer. The property, developed under the InterContinental brand of IHG Hotels & Resorts, has also been accepted into Virtuoso, the global network of luxury travel advisors. Eyal Goldberger will serve as General Manager and Galit Heller-Halfon will lead as Director of Sales & Marketing.

New leadership for Jerusalem’s first luxury opening in more than a decade

The announcement positions InterContinental Jerusalem to enter the city’s upper-tier hospitality market with experienced leadership. The hotel is being presented as a contemporary luxury option in Jerusalem and is scheduled to debut in the late summer season, marking the first new high-end hotel opening in the city in over ten years.

Eyal Goldberger, an Israeli-American hospitality executive with 25 years of international experience, has been appointed General Manager. Goldberger’s career includes senior roles with major global brands such as Marriott International and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. He led the opening of Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale during the pandemic, managing operational setup and team development under difficult market conditions, and later returned to Israel to serve as General Manager of the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem, part of The Set Collection.

“There is no place with a cultural tapestry like Jerusalem” said Goldberger. “This is a city defined by timelessness, depth, and an extraordinary history of endurance, and our goal is to honor that legacy while introducing a contemporary expression of luxury and a refined approach to five star service. We have created a sanctuary in the heart of the city – a place where guests can experience calm, perspective, and connection, while also engaging with Jerusalem as a true cultural capital and gathering place for innovators, thinkers, and travelers from around the world.”

Commercial leadership with deep local and international experience

Joining Goldberger on the senior team is Galit Heller-Halfon, named Director of Sales & Marketing. Heller-Halfon brings more than 30 years of experience in destination marketing and commercial leadership within luxury hospitality. Her past roles include senior commercial positions and a leadership role contributing to the establishment of The Jaffa Hotel in Tel Aviv-Jaffa within the Marriott portfolio. She also led sales and marketing at Jerusalem’s Mamilla Hotel from its pre-opening and for nearly a decade thereafter.

“With IHG’s global recognition and the support of advisor-led travel through Virtuoso, we’re proud to establish a new cultural address in Jerusalem that feels both globally sophisticated and authentically rooted,” said Heller-Halfon. “From our culinary vision to our design, every element of the hotel is intentionally crafted to reflect Jerusalem’s timeless legacy through a refined, contemporary expression of luxury. At InterContinental Jerusalem, we connect our guests seamlessly with the city and its rich cultural and culinary landscape.”

Positioning, partnerships and what’s next

InterContinental Jerusalem will operate under the InterContinental brand umbrella of IHG Hotels & Resorts and has secured inclusion in Virtuoso, signaling a focus on high-end, advisor-led bookings. The hotel’s opening is timed to bolster Jerusalem’s luxury offering and to provide an address tailored for both international visitors and a local clientele seeking elevated hospitality experiences.

  • General Manager: Eyal Goldberger (25 years’ experience; Marriott, Hyatt; former GM David Citadel Hotel)
  • Director of Sales & Marketing: Galit Heller-Halfon (30+ years; led sales at Mamilla Hotel; contributed to The Jaffa Hotel)
  • Brand: InterContinental (IHG Hotels & Resorts)
  • Network: Accepted into Virtuoso
  • Opening: Scheduled for late summer; first new luxury hotel in Jerusalem in over a decade
Lobby and façade concept of InterContinental Jerusalem showing luxury interior design and views of the historic city
InterContinental Jerusalem will join Virtuoso and enter Jerusalem’s luxury hotel market with an experienced executive team.

What this means for travelers and the hospitality sector

The appointment of seasoned leaders and Virtuoso membership suggest the hotel will target luxury leisure and advisor-led bookings, offering travellers an internationally connected option in Jerusalem. For the hospitality industry, the opening signals renewed investment in the city’s upscale accommodation segment and adds to Jerusalem’s appeal as a cultural and luxury destination. So what? Guests can expect a property that blends global standards with local cultural engagement, and travel advisors will have a new inventory of premium rooms and experiences to offer clients visiting Jerusalem.

Planning a trip to Jerusalem? Expect expanded luxury options and increased advisor-led availability once InterContinental Jerusalem opens later this summer.