08 June 2010

New Fort Lauderdale Holiday Inn Express & Suites Offers Convenience for Business and Leisure Travelers

Hotel for value-conscious consumers is close to Executive Airport, Keiser University

ATLANTA - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, announced the recent opening of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Fort Lauderdale, conveniently located near Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, Interstate 95 and Keiser University. The newly remodeled hotel, with a meeting room and business center as well as 16 large suites, is designed to meet the needs of those visiting the area on business or vacation.

"Holiday Inn Express hotels are designed to be the smart choice for value-conscious business and leisure travelers," said Gina LaBarre, vice president, Brand Delivery, The Americas, IHG.  "With more than 2,000 properties worldwide and nearly 600 properties in the pipeline, the Holiday Inn Express portfolio continues to expand in markets like South Florida, providing our guests with an enhanced-stay experience at a great value.  We welcome this hotel into the Holiday Inn family with the brand new sign and everything it represents."

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport is among the first Holiday Inn hotels opened in the South Florida area with the brand's new sign, which is the seal of approval that they exemplify the standards of the $1 billion Holiday Inn brand relaunch program. First announced in 2007, the Holiday Inn global brand relaunch was established to create a more contemporary brand image - improving quality and driving consistency across the global portfolio. The global estate of more than 3,300 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties are expected to be relaunched by the end of 2010, and more than 2,300 hotels have 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 such as the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport feature:

  • Upgraded and decluttered lobby areas
  • A Holiday Inn Express signature scent and sound
  • New exterior lighting
  • 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.

Located at 1500 W. Commercial Boulevard, the new Holiday Inn Express & Suites is at a prime location for both business and leisure travelers. Featuring high-speed wireless internet connections in each room in addition to a business center, the hotel offers meeting space that can be used as a classroom, board room or auditorium for up to 40 guests.  For leisure travelers the hotel is less than five miles from the famous Fort Lauderdale beach and close to several area golf courses as well as the downtown Las Olas Boulevard shopping district.

Guests at the five-story Holiday Inn Express & Suites with 100 rooms, including 16 suites, will experience a comfortable and smart environment with innovative preferred guest upgrades to ensure a productive stay while traveling for business or leisure. The redesigned and completely remodeled hotel features an outdoor pool as well as state-of-the art fitness center and breakfast facilities. The SimplySmartTM shower incorporates a proprietary Stay SmartTM Kohler showerhead, signature shower curtain with curved rod, upgraded 100 percent cotton terry towels and a custom line of cinnamon-scented bath products.  Guests will also enjoy the SimplySmartTM bedding collection where they will find new, crisp and fresh bedding, which features an attractive decorative throw, a medium-weight duvet blanket and soft 200 thread-count sheets.

All rooms come with a 32" flat panel HDTV, refrigerator and microwave oven, while the suites have two 42-inch HDTVs in addition to a full living room and a dinette table for two.

"We are proud the new Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport can showcase the brand's new sign which represents changes that ensure our guests will experience fantastic service, with a fresh look, and brand new amenities throughout the hotel," said owner Dr. Arthur Keiser of Zeus Properties.

Holiday Inn Express hotels participate 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 www.priorityclub.com, calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of this hotel or any of IHG's over 4,400 hotels worldwide.

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport is owned by the Zeus Properties LLC and managed by Janus Hotels and Resorts Inc. under a licensing agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.

About Holiday Inn Express
Holiday Inn Express hotels are modern hotels for value-oriented travelers.  Fresh, clean and uncomplicated, Holiday Inn Express hotels offer competitive rates for both business and leisure travelers.  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 2,000 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 visit http://www.hiexpress.com/.

Media Contacts:
Sherry Telford, Holiday Inn Express, [email protected], +1(770) 604-2613
Sarah-Ann Soffer, Holiday Inn Express, [email protected], +1(770)604-2707

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 4,400 hotels and more than 650,000 guest rooms in 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 over 1,300 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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