24 September 2008

New Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Opens in Downtown Boston

Historic property to feature new sign and brand standards as part of the worldwide brand relaunch

ATLANTA (Sept. 24, 2008) - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms announced today that a 72-room Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites will open in downtown Boston within a month, after a $3.5 million investment by the owner, Gemini Hospitality, to renovate the historic 100-year-old building.

The property will showcase the brand's new sign, which is the seal of approval that this hotel exemplifies the standards of the $1 billion Holiday Inn brand relaunch program.  First announced in 2007, the relaunch program was established to create a more contemporary brand image, increase quality and drive consistency.

"Holiday Inn Express hotels are designed to be the smart choice for value-conscious business and leisure travelers," said John Merkin, senior vice president, Brand Management, Holiday Inn brands. "We know our guests will enjoy the experience of a unique historical property in one of the oldest cities in the U.S. that still provides the contemporary comforts and services they have come to expect.  We welcome this hotel into the Holiday Inn family of brands with the beacon of the new sign and everything it represents."

Located on Friend Street, directly across from the TD Banknorth Garden, the property allows guests to be within walking distance to Boston's famed historical attractions, including Fanueil Hall, Boston Commons, Beacon Hill and the Old North Church.  Also nearby are Boston Harbor, The New England Aquarium and the North End, home to Boston's Little Italy.  Boston City Hall, Massachusetts General Hospital and the Tip O'Neill Federal Building are close by.

Guests at the Holiday Inn Express will experience a comfortable and smart environment with innovative preferred guest upgrades to ensure a productive stay while traveling for business or leisure. The hotel's newly enhanced complimentary Express Start® breakfast bar will feature a full selection of breakfast items including cheddar cheese omelets, bacon, biscuits, yogurt, fruit and the brand's proprietary cinnamon roll and Smart Roast® coffee. The SimplySmartTM shower will incorporate a proprietary Stay SmartTM Kohler showerhead, upgraded 100 percent cotton terry towels and a new line of cinnamon-scented bath products into each guest bathroom.  Guests at the hotel also will enjoy the brand's fresh, new SimplySmartTM bedding collection that features an attractive decorative top sheet, a medium-weight duvet blanket and soft 200 thread-count sheets.

The newly renovated five-story property will offer business travelers a variety of key amenities such as free high speed wireless Internet access throughout the hotel, free local phone calls (U.S. and Canada only), phone with private voicemail and free daily delivery of USA Today.  Guests will also have access to an on-site fitness center and business center, and all guestrooms will have a 32" LCD flat panel television with HD broadcast channels.  Standard Holiday Inn Express guest rooms feature a comfortable king-sized bed, or two comfortable double beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair and an in-room coffee machine featuring complimentary Smart Roast 100% Arabica coffee.  The hotel will also offer 15 suites with wet bar, microwave and refrigerator. 

"We invested $3.5 million in renovations to meet Holiday Inn Express brand standards, and we are very pleased with the resulting urban contemporary design," said Karla Lyon, general manager. "Holiday Inn Express has excellent brand recognition and loyalty, and we're pleased to be the first hotel to bring the new sign to Boston."

Holiday Inn Express participates in IHG's guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards.  The industry's first and largest guest loyalty program has more than 39 million members.  Priority Club Rewards membership is free and guests can enroll by logging on at priorityclub.com, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of this hotel or any of IHG's more than 4,000 hotels worldwide.

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Boston-Downtown is owned by Gemini Real Estate Advisors and managed by Gemini Hospitality Management, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group and will be located at 280 Friend St.

About Holiday Inn Express

Holiday Inn Express is the modern hotel for value-oriented travelers.  Fresh, clean and uncomplicated, Holiday Inn Express hotels offer competitive rates for both business and leisure travelers.  Guests Stay Smart® at Holiday Inn Express hotels where they enjoy a free hot Express Start® Breakfast Bar, free high-speed internet access and free local phone calls (US only).  There are currently more than 1,800 Holiday Inn Express locations around the globe.  For more information about Holiday Inn Express or to book reservations, call 1-800-HOLIDAY or visit http://www.hiexpress.com/.

Media Contacts:        

Caroline Sanfilippo, Holiday Inn Express, [email protected], 770-604-2495                                   

Natasha Gullett, Holiday Inn Express, [email protected], 770-604-5597  


Notes to Editors:

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 4,000 hotels and more than 590,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group 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 39 million members worldwide.

IHG has more than 1,700 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 150,000 jobs worldwide over the next few years.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards programme at www.priorityclub.com. For the latest news from IHG, visit our online Press Office at www.ihg.com/media

Ends