06 October 2015

Noble and IHG to Develop Dual-Branded EVEN® Hotels and Staybridge Suites® Hotel in Downtown Seattle

First Hotel Brand Dedicated to Wellness Continues Strong Growth in the U.S. with Addition of First West Coast Property

ATLANTA – Noble Investment Group (Noble) and IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world's leading hotel companies, today announce a joint venture to develop a dual-branded EVEN® Hotels and Staybridge Suites® hotel in downtown Seattle. The nine-story building, expected to open in mid-2017, will be located at the intersection of Mercer Street and Fairview Avenue North adjacent to the Amazon urban campus in the rapidly growing South Lake Union area. This new dual-branded hotel will be the first EVEN Hotels property on the West coast and the third Staybridge Suites property in the Seattle market.

Joel Eisemann, Chief Development Officer, The Americas, IHG said: “We are extremely enthused about growing both the EVEN Hotels and Staybridge Suites brands on the West Coast in partnership with a best-in-class owner like Noble. This project demonstrates the strong momentum behind IHG’s new and established brands and shows our commitment to growing in high-profile, high barrier to entry markets with experienced owners.”

Rodney Williams, Chief Investment Officer, Noble added: “We are excited to build on our relationship with IHG and together deliver this EVEN Hotels and Staybridge Suites dual-branded property in a true gateway American city. The South Lake Union area of downtown Seattle is a dynamic confluence of medical, corporate and leisure demand anchored by the expanding global headquarters of Amazon.”

EVEN Hotels is IHG’s newest lifestyle hotel brand, created with wellness at its core and designed to help travelers Eat Well, Rest Easy, Keep Active and Accomplish More, making it ideal to better serve wellness-minded travelers in the Seattle area. The 123-room EVEN Hotel Seattle – Downtown/South Lake Union will feature natural and modern design, bringing the outdoors in and offering different design and technology elements to help guests maintain the balance they desire. Guests can also expect a personalized service culture where team members champion wellness and inspire guests to maintain their wellness routines. Additional signature elements of the brand experience featured in the hotel will include a world-class Athletic Studio; flex space for small group fitness classes; guest rooms featuring the In-Room Training Zone; and Cork & Kale Market and Bar, which offers a menu of freshly prepared food items and signature cocktails. The hotel will also feature over 2,000 square feet of meeting space and an outdoor garden.

The Staybridge Suites brand is designed for upscale business and leisure travelers who are spending an extended time away from home for business, relocation or leisure. The 112-room Staybridge Suites Seattle – Downtown/South Lake Union will feature a mix of studio and one-bedroom suites and amenities such as a complimentary daily hot breakfast buffet and evening reception, guest laundry room and a 24-hour business center.

This dual-branded hotel model allows for operating and building efficiencies, yet doesn’t compromise the distinct experiences the EVEN Hotels and Staybridge Suites brands deliver to their guests. South Lake Union is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing urban markets in the U.S. The area is home to a diverse mix of retail, office and residential buildings, and continues to substantially grow as a major hub for technology and life science organizations. The area is also supported by outstanding infrastructure, with 170 acres of parks as well as lakefront access and a myriad of alternative transit options.

The hotels will be a joint venture between Noble and IHG and will be managed by an affiliate of IHG.

EVEN Hotels is expanding rapidly with two open hotels, in Rockville, Maryland, and Norwalk, Connecticut, and six hotels in the pipeline including three New York City area hotels (two in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn); Miami, Florida, and Omaha, Nebraska. The Staybridge Suites brand is the fastest growing upscale extended stay brand in its segment with 216 hotels currently open and more than 100 hotels in the pipeline.

About EVEN Hotels
EVEN® Hotels, the newest brand from IHG, meets the large and growing demand for a hotel brand to help wellness-minded travelers keep their balance on the road. An industry first, EVEN Hotels invites wellness on every journey by providing solutions for all aspects of travelers’ wellness needs. With an emphasis on four components, Eating Well, Resting Easy, Keeping Active and Accomplishing More, the brand serves as a travel partner, helping guests feel better about their experience and themselves based on the choices they are able to make. The brand was announced in 2012 and is expected to be a key pillar in the IHG portfolio of preferred brands. EVEN Hotels opened its first two properties in 2014 in Norwalk, Connecticut, and Rockville, Maryland. The brand has an additional six properties in the pipeline, including two in midtown Manhattan and one in Brooklyn, New York. For more information, visit http://EVENHotels.com/. Find EVEN Hotels on Twitter https://twitter.com/EvenHotels or Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EvenHotels.

About Staybridge Suites Hotels
Staybridge Suites® is an innovative, all-suite hotel brand designed to meet the needs of extended stay guests seeking a warm sense of community in a home-like environment that is perfect for business, relocation and vacations.  The Staybridge Suites brand entered the extended stay segment in December 1998 when its flagship location in Alpharetta, Ga., opened. Since that opening, the Staybridge Suites brand continues to grow rapidly with 216 hotels open across the Americas, Europe and the Middle East.  There are more than 100 Staybridge Suites hotels in the pipeline, including eight outside of the Americas. For more information about the Staybridge Suites brand, call 1-877-238-8889 or visit www.StaybridgeSuites.com. Find Staybridge Suites hotels on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Staybridge or Facebook www.Facebook.com/StaybridgeSuites.

About Noble Investment Group
Founded in 1993, the Noble organization specializes in making value-added, opportunistic investments in the lodging and hospitality real estate sector. Through its private equity real estate funds, Noble has made more than $3 billion of investments throughout the United States in primarily select service and extended stay hotels which are affiliated with premium brands by Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, InterContinental Hotels Group and Starwood. For additional information, please visit www.nobleinvestment.com.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Sarah-Ann Soffer
[email protected]
+1 (770) 604 2707

About IHG

IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including InterContinental® Hotels & ResortsKimpton® Hotels & RestaurantsHUALUXE Hotels and ResortsCrowne Plaza® Hotels & ResortsHotel Indigo®EVEN® HotelsHoliday Inn® Hotels & ResortsHoliday Inn Express®Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns more than 4,900 hotels and 727,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries, with more than 1,300 hotels in its development pipeline. IHG also manages IHG® Rewards Club, the world’s first and largest hotel loyalty programme with more than 88 million members worldwide.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales. More than 350,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally.

Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.ihgrewardsclub.com for more on IHG Rewards Club. For our latest news, visit: www.ihg.com/media and follow us on social media at: www.twitter.com/ihgwww.facebook.com/ihg and www.youtube.com/ihgplc.