02 May 2012

IHG Named Exclusive Hotel Partner of USA Cycling

ATLANTA and COLORADO SPRINGS – IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world's largest hotel companies, and USA Cycling, cycling’s national governing body, today announced they have entered into a multi-year agreement that names IHG the exclusive hotel partner of USA Cycling.

"We are really looking forward to this new relationship with USA Cycling and the USA Cycling Team," said Del Ross, vice president, Americas Sales & Marketing, IHG. "This partnership provides a terrific opportunity for IHG to showcase team travel accommodations for USA Cycling’s more than 70,000 licensees and hundreds of athletes that race around the world."

As a part of its sponsorship, IHG will create a special portal for USA Cycling members to book rooms at exclusive rates at any participating IHG hotel including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn® Club Vacations, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®. IHG’s loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards is the world’s largest with 63 million members worldwide. IHG will have branding opportunities at various cycling events as well.

"We are delighted to begin this relationship with IHG and its storied hotel brands,” said USA Cycling President & Chief Executive Officer Steve Johnson. “IHG’s commitment not only to help fund USA Cycling’s athlete programs but also to offer our members dedicated access to their unmatched operating system will make a noticeable difference in the lives of our travel-heavy members.”

The partnership was reached in conjunction with sports marketing and entertainment company Wasserman Media Group, which was retained by USA Cycling to assist in establishing greater sponsorship value and identifying potential partnership opportunities for the national governing body. IHG joins a roster of proud USA Cycling partners, including Grape-Nuts, Exergy and Spy.

About USA Cycling
Recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling is the official governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States, including road, track, mountain bike, BMX and cyclo-cross. As a membership-based organization, USA Cycling comprises 70,000 licensees; 2,500+ clubs and teams; and 34 local associations. The national governing body sanctions 3,000+ competitive and non-competitive events throughout the U.S. each year, manages 17 national championship events and is responsible for fostering the identification, development, and support of American cyclists. To learn more about USA Cycling, visit usacycling.org.


About Wasserman Media Group
Wasserman is a sports marketing and entertainment company with global expertise in Athlete Management, Consulting, Media Rights, Partnership and Business Development, and Action Sports. For more information please visit www.wmgllc.com

Media Contacts:
Monica Smith, IHG, [email protected], +1(770) 604-5562
Andrea Smith, USA Cycling Media Services, [email protected], +1(719) 434-4274

Notes to Editors:

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organization with nine hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites®, as well as our two newest brands, EVEN™ Hotels and HUALUXE™ Hotels & Resorts. IHG also manages Priority Club® Rewards, the world's first and largest hotel loyalty program with over 63 million members worldwide.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,400 hotels and more than 658,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories, and has more than 1,100 hotels in its development pipeline.

IHG expects to recruit around 90,000 new people worldwide across its estate over the next few years and is committed to gender balance throughout its business. We aspire to continue retaining a minimum of 25% female representation on the Board.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.priorityclub.com for more on Priority Club Rewards. For our latest news, visit www.ihg.com/media, www.twitter.com/ihgplc or www.youtube.com/ihgplc.

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