Willard InterContinental Washington D.C. Chief Concierge Robert Watson appointed President of Les Clefs d'Or International

London, 23 April 2009 - InterContinental Hotels & Resorts announces the appointment of Robert Watson, Chief Concierge of Willard InterContinental Washington D.C., as International President of Les Clefs d'Or International, the professional society of hotel concierges.

Jenifer Zeigler, Senior Vice President, Global Brand Management, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, said: "This appointment and honour symbolizes Robert's many years of dedication, hard work and training in the concierge profession, and InterContinental Hotels & Resorts' commitment to the role of the concierge."

In his new role, as International President of Les Clefs d'Or International, Watson will lead the global efforts of the prestigious association, first founded in 1929 in Paris and today represented in over 50 countries by more than 3,000 members. As the world's first truly global hotel brand and one that is committed to providing guests with authentic and enriching local experiences, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts regularly consults with Les Clefs d'Or International. It is also the world's only hotel brand to offer destination specific concierge websites and videos, so guests have access to full concierge services even before they arrive at the destination.

Watson brings over 30 years of concierge service experience to his new role, which he accrued from working in hotels spanning the globe. Prior to joining Willard InterContinental Washington D.C., Watson held various Chief Concierge positions at luxury hotels across the UK, Europe and Africa. He has also been a 25-year member of the Golden Keys of Great Britain, and speaks five languages including Spanish, French and Italian fluently.

Zeigler added: "This is a tremendous accolade for InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, which strives to keep our guests in the know by facilitating authentic and enriching experiences beyond the usual attractions. Across our global portfolio of hotels, the concierge plays a very special role. We are the first to offer our guests pre-arrival access to our concierges through innovative tools such as websites and videos. Having one of our most experienced concierges appointed leader of Les Clefs d'Or International is a great tribute to InterContinental's global commitment to the concierge profession."

A British citizen, Robert is married with three children and resides in Washington D.C.

Contacts:        

Charles Yap 
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
+44 (0) 7808 098 698
[email protected]                                                 

Barbara Bahny-David
Willard InterContinental Washington DC
[email protected]
+1 (202) 637 7309

Notes to Editors:

About Willard InterContinental Washington DC

An American institution and leader in Sustainable Hospitality, Willard InterContinental Washington D.C. is located in the heart of the US capital on Pennsylvania Avenue, near the White House, the Smithsonian museums and the downtown business and theatre districts. A leader in Sustainable Hospitality, the Willard is the Washington D.C. hotel of choice for heads of state and leaders of the world's business, cultural, social and political elite. The hotel's 332 well appointed large guestrooms include 40 elegant suites. Dining options include The Willard Room fine dining restaurant and Café du Parc, the popular French bistro with seasonal outdoor seating and traditional Afternoon Tea in Peacock Alley. The luxurious Red Door Spa offers a wide array of pampering treatments. The classic Willard InterContinental combines heritage and luxury with contemporary comfort and the latest technology. Tel. 202-628-9100, or Web site:  www.washington.intercontinental.com

"Willard InterContinental - The Next 100 Years" is a holistic sustainable hospitality program in harmony with social and ecological consciousness. Visit www.willarddc.com/sd, a comprehensive guide to the Willard's sustainability efforts.  

About InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has 159 hotels, located in more than 60 countries with local insight that comes from over 60 years of experience. At InterContinental we believe that superior, understated service and outstanding facilities are important, but what makes us truly different, is the genuine interest we show in our guests. Our desire is to help guests make the most of their time. We connect our well-travelled guests to what's special about a destination, by sharing our knowledge so they enjoy authentic experiences that will enrich their lives and broaden their outlook. For more information, visit http://www.intercontinental.com/ and http://www.intercontinentalvideo.com/.

About IHG

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, more than 4,150 hotels and almost 620,000 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 42 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