28 February 2008

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts Undergoes U.S. Growth Spurt With Opening of Three New Hotels in the Western Region

InterContinental San Francisco Opens Doors and Launches Aggressive Development

ATLANTA (Feb. 28, 2008) - Today, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts kicks off the next chapter in the evolution of the first global, luxury brand with the opening of InterContinental San Francisco.  The modern, 550-room hotel joins sister property InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco in the City by the Bay and, by the end of 2008, will be one of five InterContinental Hotels & Resorts properties in the Western Region of the United States.  A growth mirrored globally as InterContinental San Francisco also marks the brand's sixth property to open in six months.

"The opening of InterContinental San Francisco is a tremendous milestone as we grow our presence in the Western Region and throughout the U.S." said Janis Cannon, Vice President, Brand Management, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, The Americas.  "We look forward to the continued expansion of the InterContinental brand over the next several months.  Each new property will deliver our brand hallmarks of providing guests with the highest level of comfort and excellence, while offering authentic and unique experiences of the local destination."

Located in San Francisco's South of Market Area (SOMA), InterContinental San Francisco is at the corner of Howard and Fifth streets, adjacent to the Moscone West Convention Center and steps from Union Square.  The picturesque, translucent glass 32-story high-rise strikes a fine balance between business and leisure, boasting 43,000 square-feet of dedicated meeting and function space on three floors that allows for flexible configurations of up to 23 separate rooms.  InterContinental San Francisco features signature restaurant Luce, a Tuscany meets California wine-restaurant, created with the collaboration of Michael Mondavi, son of local viticulture pioneer Robert Mondavi, as well as an 8,000 square-foot full-service spa and health club, complete with an indoor lap pool and spacious terraces for public use.  Hotel amenities include a Presidential Suite with sweeping views of the Bay Area, state-of-the-art technology and floor to ceiling windows in all guest rooms.

Momentum of InterContinental's U.S. growth continues down the Pacific Coast Highway all the way to Arizona in two idyllic cities, Monterey Bay, CA and Paradise Valley, AZ, where the global brand will introduce InterContinental The Clement Monterey in May 2008 and its first resort property in the country, InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa in fall 2008.  The exponential expansion comes on the heels of InterContinental Los Angeles Century City, which debuted in 2007 and together with the historic InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco established the international brand's presence in the Western Region. These three new-build hotels add 1,085 rooms to the Western Region, more than doubling the brand's existing room inventory.   

The U.S. road map leading to the 2008 holiday season includes:  

InterContinental The Clement Monterey, Monterey Bay, California - May 2008

The first new hotel to be built on Monterey Bay in more than 20 years, the 208-room InterContinental The Clement Monterey boasts an enviable waterfront location.  Comprised of three buildings, the hotel maintains the architectural integrity of the authentic coastal community and accentuates the panoramic sights and sounds of the surf and sea.  Breathtaking water views will create a backdrop for the hotel's signature C Restaurant, which will serve fresh local seafood and organic produce.  Hotel amenities include the Energia Body Centre Spa and state of the art fitness center, and 15,000 square-feet of indoor and outdoor space for events, meetings and corporate retreats.

InterContinental The Clement Monterey is located in the heart of the street immortalized by John Steinbeck's 1945 novel Cannery Row, next to the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium, and is conveniently located only minutes from Monterey's Wine Country, Carmel-by-the-Sea, dramatic Big Sur, as well as legendary golf courses including Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill.

InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, Arizona - Fall 2008

Comprised of 28 lushly landscaped acres, InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa will be the brand's first destination spa resort in the U.S.  Featuring architecture that reflects the lifestyle of Andalusia in southern Spain, the resort - comprised of 253 rooms, 40 suites and 34 private-living single-family villas - will echo the Mediterranean influences from décor to fine dining experiences. The all-encompassing lifestyle destination offers guests and residents a variety of amenities, in addition to convenient access to Scottsdale's renowned golf courses and outdoor adventures ranging from rock climbing to scenic air tours. 

World renowned spa creator Sylvia Sepielli conceived and is overseeing construction of the 31,000 square-foot, two-level building containing 23 treatment rooms.  Spa services will range from skincare and massages to meditation, as well as a variety of signature Montelucia spa treatments, including Hammam-style therapy.  The exclusive experience extends as long as guests desire with an active lounge for socializing before and after treatments, a private pool on the second floor with stunning views of Camelback Mountain, food and drink service from the pool grille and juice bar, full-service beauty salon, and a boutique with signature spa products.

InterContinental Montelucia is the only luxury resort in Arizona with a private wedding chapel.  Both indoor ceremonies under a tall cathedral ceiling and outdoor ceremonies in a scenic courtyard garden can be accommodated and features the famous Camelback Mountain as the masterfully designed back drop.  In addition, more than 26,840 square-feet of indoor and 70,000 square-feet of outdoor flexible meeting and event space are available for corporate and social functions. 

Media Contacts:        

Lisa Beachy, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, [email protected], (770) 604-2429                                             

Celia de la Llama, Weber Shandwick, [email protected], (212) 445-8240

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, almost 4,000 hotels and more than 585,000 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

InterContinental Hotels Group is a registered company. For more information go to: www.ihg.com/legal

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