08 January 2009
$31 Million Holiday Inn Hotel Opens in Long Island City
New-build property features new sign and brand standards as part of the worldwide brand relaunch
ATLANTA (Jan. 8, 2009) - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, announced today that the 136-room Holiday Inn Long Island City-Manhattan View has opened.
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. The global estate of more than 3,200 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties is expected to be relaunched by the end of 2010.
"We are thrilled to welcome this property to the Holiday Inn family of hotels with the brand new sign and everything it represents. Holiday Inn hotels are specifically designed for business and family oriented leisure travelers in need of a full-service lodging experience, and this property fits well within that offering," said John Merkin, senior vice president, Brand Management, Holiday Inn Brands, The Americas. "Development in the New York City market is key to expanding our Holiday Inn consumer base and growing an even stronger presence across the Americas."
Situated in Long Island City in the Queens borough, the new-build 75,000 square foot hotel boasts modern décor throughout the lobby and guestrooms. The property is within walking distance to the New York City subway system, making guests just minutes away from popular Manhattan attractions, including Times Square, the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center. Silvercup Studios, LaGuardia Community College and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are also nearby. The hotel is located just a short drive from all three of New York's high-traffic international airports: La Guardia, John F. Kennedy and Newark Liberty.
The Holiday Inn Long Island City-Manhattan View offers a variety of amenities including an indoor swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness center and wireless internet access throughout the hotel. Many rooms have balconies with views of the Manhattan skyline.
The hotel's dining facility, 39 Below, features the Holiday Inn Best-4-Breakfast® menu, featuring signature items such as Cinnamon Supreme French ToastTM and Skillet InspirationsTM. Kids 12 and younger eat free at Holiday Inn when ordering from the kids' menu in the hotel restaurant and accompanied by a dining adult. Room Service Right...On TimeTM, also a standard at all Holiday Inn hotels, ensures that guests' room service orders are accurate and delivered on time, every time. Guests can also enjoy the hotel's lounge, Swirl which will offer contemporary American cuisine and an outdoor patio. With nearly 1,000 square feet of function space, the hotel will also be available for business meetings.
Standard Holiday Inn guestroom accommodations feature comfortable queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair, cable television, hairdryer, coffee maker, iron and ironing board. Guest beds are made using crisp, white bedding with pillows that come in two comfort levels: "soft" and "firm." Bathrooms include a specially designed showerhead that offers superior pressure, as well as a signature shower curtain with curved rod and new amenities. Guestrooms provide a work desk and ergonomic chair, data ports and complimentary USA TODAY® newspapers.
"We've invested $31 million to build this property and are pleased with the end result," said Juan Bueno, general manager. "The New York City area is one of the most well-traveled markets for both tourism and business in the U.S., and it's a perfect fit for the Holiday Inn product."
Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts participates in IHG's guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards. The industry's first and largest guest loyalty program has 40 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 4,100 hotels worldwide.
The Holiday Inn Long Island City-Manhattan View is managed by InterContinental Hotels Group Resources, Inc., on behalf of Queens Plaza North. The hotel is located at 39-05 29th St., Long Island City, N.Y., 11101.
About Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts
With nearly 1,400 hotels worldwide, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts is the most widely recognized lodging brand in the world. In fact, Holiday Inn was one of the first international hotel brands to establish a presence in China in 1984. Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts provides the services that business travelers need, while also offering a comfortable atmosphere where all people can relax and enjoy amenities such as restaurants and room service, swimming pools, fitness centers and comfortable lounges. The casual atmosphere and amenities such as meeting and on-site business facilities, KidSuites rooms, Kids Eat and Stay Free programs, and the ability to earn Priority Club Rewards points that can be redeemed for great merchandise, airline miles or free room nights, demonstrate the long-standing commitment of
Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts to serving travelers and have helped to establish the brand as "America's Favorite Hotel." For more information about Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts or to book reservations, call 1-800-HOLIDAY or visit http://www.holidayinn.com/.
About The Hotel Management Group
IHG's management portfolio is one of the largest in the world. As of Sept. 30, 2008, the company operates 589 hotels and more than 150,000 rooms around the world. In the Americas alone, IHG's The Hotel Management Group manages 207 hotels comprised of more than 44,000 rooms with another 25 hotels and more than 5,200 rooms in the region's management pipeline. The Hotel Management Group provides a proprietary hotel management program called Performance Advantage, which allows for adaptation of its management services and contract terms based on the needs of each individual property investor.
Media Contacts:
Caroline Sanfilippo, Holiday Inn, [email protected], 770-604-2495
Natasha Gullett, Holiday Inn, [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 4,100 hotels and more than 600,000 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, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®, and also manages the world’s largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club® Rewards with 40 million members worldwide.
IHG has more than 1,700 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 200,000 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