14 January 2008

IHG to Open Crowne Plaza in Louisville, Ky.

Property will have 588 rooms and 50,000 sq. ft. of meeting space

ATLANTA (Jan. 14, 2008) - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], one of the world's largest hotel groups by number of rooms, today announced plans for a Crowne Plaza in Louisville, Ky.  The hotel is expected to open in Q4 2008, following its renovation and conversion from an Executive West Hotel.

The hotel is located less than a mile from the entrance to the Louisville International Airport and a short drive to downtown Louisville and the Kentucky Expo Center.  The property also offers convenient access to Interstate 264 and Interstate 65 and is near several major employers in the Louisville area.

"The hotel's location near the airport makes it convenient for local businesses including UPS, Ford Motor Company, Yum! Brands and Humana Healthcare to utilize the accommodations and the meeting space this hotel offers," said Gina LaBarre, VP, Brand Management, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, the Americas.

The eight-story Crowne Plaza will offer 588 guest rooms and a variety of amenities, including a fitness center, indoor and outdoor pool, gift shop, airport and local business shuttle and multiple dining outlets.

The hotel will feature the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage program, which is available at all Crowne Plaza hotels in the Americas.  Sleep Advantage encompasses the entire sleep experience, from training staff on how to create and maintain a restful environment to providing innovative products and services. Program components include new bedding, guaranteed wake-up calls, designated quiet zones, night lights, drape clips, sleep CDs, sleep tips and amenities such as eye masks, ear plugs and lavender spray.

Also consistent with the Crowne Plaza brand, the hotel will offer a comprehensive meetings package to ensure a seamless planning process and exceptional meeting experience consisting of three key components: a Two-Hour Response Guarantee, Crowne Meetings Director and a Meetings Daily Debrief.  The hotel will feature 50,000 sq. ft. of exceptional meeting and banquet space. 

The property will be located at 830 Phillips Road, Louisville, Ky., and is owned by Al J. Schneider Company Hotel Division, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.

Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts participates in Priority Club Rewards. With more than 37 million members, Priority Club® Rewards is the first, largest and fastest-growing guest loyalty program in the hotel industry. Winner of the 19th Annual Freddie Awards hotel loyalty "Program of the Year" and named "Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World" three years running by Global Traveler magazine, Priority Club Rewards offers more sought-after benefits and the greatest ease of use of any hotel loyalty program. 

Enrollment in Priority Club Rewards is free. Guests can enroll by logging on at priorityclub.com, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of any of IHG's 3,800 hotels worldwide.

Crowne Plaza was recently recognized by Lodging Hospitality magazine as one of the industry's top growing brands. As part of the IHG global portfolio, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts has nearly 300 hotels in 51 countries, and are located in major urban centers, gateway cities and resort destinations. For reservations at Crowne Plaza properties, visit http://www.crowneplaza.com/ or call 1-800-2CROWNE.

Contact:        

Natasha Gullett, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, [email protected], 770.604.5597                                        

Caroline Sanfilippo, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, [email protected], 770.604.2495

Notes to Editors:

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) of the United Kingdom [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is one of the world’s largest hotel groups by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 3,800 hotels and more than 571,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. IHG owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites® and Hotel Indigo®, and also manages the world’s largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club® Rewards with over 37 million members worldwide.

The company pioneered the travel industry’s first collaborative response to environmental issues as founder of the International Hotels and Environment Initiative (IHEI). The IHEI formed the foundations of the Tourism Partnership launched by the International Business Leaders Forum in 2004, of which IHG is still a member today. The environment and local communities remain at the heart of IHG’s global corporate responsibility focus.

IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at http://www.ihg.com/ and information for the Priority Club Rewards programme at http://www.priorityclub.com/.

For the latest news from IHG, visit our online Press Office at www.ihg.com/media

Ends