"We are very proud to open the Crowne Plaza Asuncion in Paraguay as it marks our entry into a new country in Latin America," says Alvaro Diago, Area President, InterContinental Hotels Group Latin America. "This opening demonstrates our commitment to establishing a presence within new markets such as Asuncion, as well as our dedication to raising the bar in terms of the caliber of hotel brands available to travelers in Paraguay and throughout the region." 

Owned by Karmar, S.A., whose major shareholder is Osvaldo Dominguez Dibb, the Crowne Plaza Asuncion is located in the city's historic district. The two-tower hotel has a total of 74 guestrooms. The first tower, formerly the "Hotel Estella Italia" building, was fully renovated and consists of 28 guestrooms; the newly built second tower has 46 guestrooms. They are luxuriously decorated and offer the city's best views of its historical center. 

The Crowne Plaza Asuncion hotel amenities include two Crowne Club floors, swimming pool, fitness center, 24-hour room service, and a unique lobby bar with outdoor cafe. All guestrooms are equipped with wireless Internet access, and dual-line telephones with voice mail. 
Just a few blocks from the new IHG property and reflecting Asuncion's colonial past is the Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace), which was founded in 1537 on hills along the Paraguay River. With a population of 600,000, Asuncion is the shopping, financial and business center for the Spanish-speaking nation, which lies between Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina. 

Cultural attractions in Asuncion include a Spanish-era cathedral and archeological museum. Visitors often enjoy sipping terrere, a local drink, and "people-watching" from the city's many outdoor cafes. Other popular activities include visiting Asuncion's botanical gardens, which feature more than 100 species of tropical plants, and enjoying a scenic cruise on the Paraguay River. Paraguay's national parks, Jesuit missions and the Chaco wilderness plain are among the most spectacular area attractions. 

Additionally, all guestrooms feature the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage which is available at Crowne Plaza hotels in Latin America, U.S., and Canada. The Sleep Advantage program encompasses the entire sleep experience, from training staff on how to create and maintain a restful environment to providing innovative products and services. Program components include new bedding, guaranteed wake-up calls, designated quiet zones, night lights, drape clips, sleep CDs, sleep tips and amenities such as eye masks, ear plugs and lavender spray. 
Recently IHG Latin America opened the Crowne Plaza Guatemala in Guatemala City, Guatemala, the Crowne Plaza Curitiba in Curitiba, Brazil; and converted a Holiday Inn into a Crowne Plaza in Panama City, Panama. 

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC of the United Kingdom (LSE:IHG) (NYSE:IHG) (ADRs) is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. InterContinental Hotels Group owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, almost 3,600 hotels and 539,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com