24 March 2010

Holiday Inn Hotel is Newest Property in Phoenix Airport Area

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

ATLANTA - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms announced today that the 114-room Holiday Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport plans to open this month.

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.  The Holiday Inn brand relaunch is the largest in the history of the hospitality industry, with more than 3,300 hotels around the world being updated - improving quality and driving consistency at Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels around the world. The global estate is expected to be relaunched by the end of 2010, and more than 2,000 hotels have been already been relaunched to date.

The relaunch focuses on the things research shows matter most to guests - a modern, contemporary hotel with efficient, friendly service and a great night's sleep.  Relaunched hotels feature:

  • Upgraded and decluttered lobby areas
  • A Holiday Inn scent and sound
  • New bedding
  • Upgraded showers and bathroom amenities
  • New exterior lighting and landscaping
  • New signage with the redesigned logo
  • All Holiday Inn employees also go through an extensive "Stay Real" training program to ensure guests receive the level of service they expect.

"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 Gina LaBarre, vice president, Brand Delivery, the Americas, IHG. "Development in Phoenix is important in expanding our Holiday Inn consumer base and growing an even stronger presence across the Americas."

Situated on the Phoenix-Tempe border, the new 74,000 sq.-ft. hotel is the newest hotel in the Phoenix Airport market and boasts 24 suites and 90 standard rooms.  With more than 3,000-sq. ft. of function space, the hotel will also be available for business meetings and banquets. The property is conveniently located only two miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor airport, 3 miles from downtown Tempe and 8 miles from downtown Phoenix.  The hotel also provides easy access to I-10 and Loop 202.   Perfect for both business and leisure travel, the hotel is just miles from the University of Phoenix, Honeywell, General Electric, Arizona State University, the Pueblo Grande Ruins, Desert Botanical Gardens and Phoenix Zoo.

The hotel's restaurant, Soleil Bistro, features casual American & French food for both breakfast and dinner, including a signature Coq au Vin and New York Steak au Poivre.  Consistent with all Holiday Inn hotels, the Holiday Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport features the Holiday Inn Best-4-Breakfastâ 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. 

Standard Holiday Inn guestroom accommodations feature comfortable double, 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, complimentary USA TODAY® newspapers and in-room check-out capabilities.  Complimentary wireless high speed Internet access is also available throughout the hotel.

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 48 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 4,400 hotels worldwide.

The Holiday Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport which is owned and managed by Kuber Hotels, Inc., under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group is located at 3220 S. 48th Street.

About Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts

With more than 1,300 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 and, Kids Eat and Stay Free programs, 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, including IHG's new timeshare brand Holiday Inn Club Vacations, or to book reservations, call 1-800-HOLIDAY or visit http://www.holidayinn.com/.

Media Contacts:
Emily Brinkley, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, [email protected], +1(770) 604-2037
Sarah-Ann Soffer, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, [email protected], +1(770) 604-2707

Notes to Editors:

InterContinental 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 4,400 hotels and more than 645,000 guest rooms in over 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 48 million members worldwide.

IHG has nearly 1,400 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 160,000 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

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