24 June 2008

Ohio's Eighth Crowne Plaza to Open in Toledo

Major conversion located in Toledo's Central Business District, along the Maumee River

ATLANTA (June 24, 2008) - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, has announced that the 241-room Crowne Plaza Toledo (U.S.) will open within a month. The contemporary 14-story property is a conversion from a Wyndham Hotel.

"We are thrilled to welcome back the Crowne Plaza Toledo into to our Midwestern hotel portfolio," said Gina LaBarre, vice president, Brand Management, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts. "This property once existed as a Crowne Plaza hotel, and we are pleased to return to such a well-traveled downtown market.  Our industry-leading meetings program makes the Crowne Plaza Toledo an ideal choice for business travelers visiting the area."

Located on the Maumee River in the Central Business District (CBD), the hotel is situated between Interstates 75 and 280, in close proximity to three Fortune 500 Companies: Owens-Corning Fiberglass, Fifth Third Bank and HCR Manor Care Corporation. The hotel is within walking distance to Fifth Third Field, home of the Toledo Mud Hens baseball team, and Valentine Theatre.  Guests will also be a short distance from attractions including Toledo Museum of Art & Glass Pavilion, Stranahan Theatre, Toledo Botanical Gardens, University of Toledo, Toledo Raceway, Westfield Shopping Mall, Toledo Zoo and Tony Packo's Restaurant. 

Crowne Plaza Toledo will offer top-notch facilities and services, with 18,600 square feet of meeting and banquet space including a 10,000 square foot ballroom; del Sol, a 120 seat waterfront restaurant, overlooking the Maumee River, featuring American cuisine with a Mediterranean flare; Aqua Bar; a full service Starbucks Café; an indoor swimming pool; a 24-hour business center and a state-of-the-art fitness center.   

The Crowne Plaza Toledo will feature the brand's Sleep Advantage Program which is available at all Crowne Plaza hotels in the Americas.  The Sleep Advantage Program 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 program 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 Daily Meetings Debrief.  All meeting rooms at the Crowne Plaza Toledo-Downtown will feature complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access and the latest in audiovisual technology. 

The Crowne Plaza Toledo is located at Two Seagate, 444 North Summit St., Toledo, Ohio, 43604.  The hotel is owned by Paradise Hospitality, Inc., and managed by Lane Hospitality, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.

Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts participates in IHG's guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards.  The industry's first and largest guest loyalty program has more than 37 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 almost 4,000 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 more than 300 hotels in 54 countries 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.

About Lane Hospitality

Lane Hospitality is a leading management firm that owns and operates full service and select service hotels. Lane focuses on guest satisfaction through superior operations and asset management.  Regional offices are located in Chicago, IL, Houston, Texas, and Newport News, VA.   For additional information, visit http://www.lanehospitality.com/ or contact Bill Chambers at 847-291-5740 / [email protected].

Media Contacts:     

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

Monica Smith, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, [email protected], 770.604.5562

                                    

Notes to Editors:

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [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 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 37 million members worldwide.

IHG pioneered the travel industry’s first collaborative response to environmental issues as founder of the International Hotels and Environment Initiative (IHEI). The environment and local communities remain at the heart of IHG’s global corporate responsibility focus. IHG is the first major hotel group to have measured the environmental and carbon footprints of hotels that operate under our brands globally and is in the process of setting reduction targets.

With more than 1,600 hotels in its development pipeline, IHG needs to recruit around 150,000 people over the next few years to meet its global expansion plans.

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