IHG Expands Portfolio in Eastern Ontario

Two Holiday Inn Express^® properties to host visitors of the 1000 Islands area

Toronto, ON - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, announced today two new    Holiday Inn Express hotels are putting down roots in Kingston and Brockville.  The Kingston location opened on June 2, 2009, while the Brockville hotel opened on July 1, 2009. The new-build properties will showcase the Holiday Inn Express brand's new sign, which is the seal of approval that these hotels exemplify 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 as part of the drive to increase quality and consistency across the global portfolio.  The program focuses on arrival and welcome services, guestroom and guest bath comfort.  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, and more than 900 hotels have been relaunched to date.

Elements of the relaunch for Holiday Inn Express include:

Redesigned Brand Signage

An evolution of the iconic script logo, energizing the signature color green and eliminating the current shield shape for a more refreshed and contemporary look.

Warm Welcome

A new signature arrival - including new lighting, landscaping and design features - that creates an energized and branded sense of welcome that is universally recognizable.  Customized music and scent selections also engage guests in a complete sensory experience, and a decluttered front desk to promote a more efficient and interactive check-in process.

New Service Promise

A best-in-class service culture - "Stay Real" - to further ensure the team develops the behaviors and skills to best serve guests so they feel like individuals and not numbers.  Genuine people delivering real service. Leading the charge will be a newly created position at each hotel - the Guest Experience Champion.

Both properties are located off Highway 401 near the beautiful 1000 Islands.  The hotels will boast a relaxed atmosphere and great service to reflect the breathtaking scenery and wildlife that surrounds them.  The 88-room Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Kingston is within a short driving distance of Kingston's 1000 Island Cruises, Fort Henry National Historic Site, K-Rock Centre and Grand Theatre. It is close to several key businesses and institutions; including Empire Life, Queen's University, Royal Military College, CFB Kingston, Invista and the Kingston Banquet & Conference Centre. The 80-room Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Brockville is near the historic waterfront, Brockville Museum and the Historic Gunboat exhibit, making both hotels a convenient option for business and leisure travellers alike.

Guests at both Holiday Inn Express hotels will experience a comfortable and smart environment with innovative preferred guest upgrades to ensure a productive stay while travelling for business or leisure. The newly enhanced complimentary Express Start^® breakfast bar will feature a full selection of breakfast items including a rotation of egg and meat selections, biscuits, yogurts, fruit and the brand's proprietary cinnamon roll and Smart Roast^® coffee. The SimplySmart^TM shower incorporates a proprietary Stay Smart^TM Kohler showerhead, signature shower curtain with curved rod, upgraded 100 per cent cotton terry towels and a custom line of cinnamon-scented bath products.  Guests will also enjoy the SimplySmart^TM bedding collection where they will find new, crisp bedding which features an attractive decorative throw, a medium-weight duvet blanket, and soft, 200 thread-count sheets.

"Holiday Inn Express hotels are designed to be the smart choice for value-conscious business and leisure travellers," said John Merkin, senior vice president, Brand Management, Holiday Inn Brands, The Americas.  "With more than 1,900 properties worldwide and nearly 700 properties in the pipeline, the Holiday Inn Express portfolio continues to expand in markets like Eastern Ontario, providing our guests with an enhanced stay experience at a great value.  We welcome these hotels into the Holiday Inn family with the brand new sign and everything it represents."

Standard Holiday Inn Express hotel guest rooms feature comfortable queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair and an in-room coffee machine featuring complimentary Smart Roast 100% Arabica coffee.  Business travellers will find large desks, ergonomic chairs, free high-speed internet access and free local calls.  The new Kingston property offers a variety of additional amenities including 37" LCD TVs in all guestrooms, a 24-hour business centre, an indoor heated pool and Jacuzzi, and a state-of-the-art fitness centre with an LCD flat panel TV.  The hotel also offers 12 King Business Class Suites as well as four Jacuzzi Suites.  The new Brockville property offers several amenities including 32" LCD TVs in all guestrooms, a 24-hour business centre and fitness centre with whirlpool.  The hotel offers 31 suites with the option of queen extended suites, king suites and regular queen suites.

Holiday Inn Express hotels participate in IHG's guest loyalty program, Priority Club^® Rewards. The industry's first and largest guest loyalty program has 43 million members.  Priority Club Rewards membership is free and guests can enroll by logging on www.priorityclub.com, calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of this hotel or any of IHG's more than 4,200 hotels worldwide.

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Kingston is owned by Michael Springer and managed by Diamond Hotels Group, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group and is located at 11 Benson Street, Kingston, ON, K7K 5W2. Telephone: 613.546.3662.  The Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Brockville is owned by Dan Qureshi and managed by R & DQ Enterprises Ltd, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group and is located at 7815 Kent Blvd, Brockville, ON, K6V 6N7. Telephone: (800) 465-4329.

About Holiday Inn Express

Holiday Inn Express hotels are modern hotels for value-oriented travellers.  Fresh, clean and uncomplicated, Holiday Inn Express hotels offer competitive rates for both business and leisure travellers.  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 and Canada only).  There are currently more than 1,900 Holiday Inn Express hotel locations around the globe.  For more information about Holiday Inn Express hotels or to book reservations, call 1-800-HOLIDAY or visithttp://www.hiexpress.com/.

Media Contacts:
Dagmara Grabowski, Weber Shandwick Worldwide, +1(416)642 7904, [email protected]

Eric Bishop, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Kingston, +1(613)546 3661 ext. 385, [email protected]

Lorena Zigarlick, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Brockville, +1(403)998 3126, [email protected]

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 4,200 hotels and more than 620,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of well recognized 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 program, Priority Club® Rewards with 43 million members worldwide.

IHG has nearly 1,700 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create around 140,000 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 program at www.priorityclub.com. For the latest news from IHG, visit our online Press Office at www.ihg.com/media