April 1, 2015 – MEXICO, D.F. – InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, today announces plans to bring the Candlewood Suites® brand to Mexico with the signing of two new properties in the states of Guanajuato and Queretaro. Both hotels are expected to open in 2016 and will be the brand’s first hotels outside of the U.S. and Canada. With 322 hotels currently open and another 89 in the pipeline, the Candlewood Suites brand is poised for strong growth in the Americas region.

Robert Radomski, Vice President, Brand Management, Extended Stay Brands, IHG said: “We are excited to bring the Candlewood Suites brand’s relaxed and home-like extended stay experience to Mexico. Guanajuato and Queretaro are both experiencing sustained industrial and economic development. This will bring an influx of business travelers needing a long term hotel stay, making the Candlewood Suites brand the perfect fit.”

Both hotels, owned by OVQ Celaya, S.A. de C.V., and managed by Diamond Lodging, will be new build developments with 100 suites each. The Candlewood Suites Celaya hotel in Guanajuato will be located on Av. Eje Nor Oriente, in the main commercial area on the east side of the city, a little more than two miles west of downtown and less than a mile from the Universidad de Celaya. With a strategic geographical location accessible by well-traveled federal highways, Celaya is the main connection between Guanajuanto and other parts of Mexico.

The Candlewood Suites Juriquilla hotel is in the state of Queretaro and will be located on Lote 8 Manzana 3 Etapa1, Fracción 1 del Fraccionamiento Juriquilla Santa Fe., which is less than two miles south of Parque Industrial Queretaro, one of the state’s most important business parks and home to more than 70 international companies. Three additional business parks, Jurica, Benito and La Cruz, are also located within three miles of the hotel.

Gerardo Murray, Regional Vice President, Distribution and Commercial Marketing, Mexico, Latin America and Caribbean, IHG added: “IHG’s experience of building brands and operating hotels in Mexico gives us a unique market leadership position. With very few hotel companies operating extended stay properties in Mexico, we have the opportunity to satisfy an unmet need by introducing the Candlewood Suites brand to the region.”

The Candlewood Suites brand is part of IHG’s broad portfolio of brands operating in nearly 100 countries and territories. IHG currently has more than 130 hotels in Mexico under six different brands. The company has proven strength in acquiring brands with unique personalities and enhancing their potential. IHG acquired the Candlewood Suites brand in 2003, and more license agreements were signed in the first six months under IHG’s leadership than in the three years prior. IHG is continuing to reinforce its established track record of building iconic brands with the recent acquisition of Kimpton® Hotels & Restaurants.

Providing friendly, yet non-intrusive service, the Candlewood Suites brand offers independent guests room to be themselves. At the hotels, guests can expect to find spacious studio and one-bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens and executive desks. The brand has unique offerings including the Candlewood Cupboard®, a 24-hour in-hotel convenience store which sells products including breakfast items, snacks, refreshments and easy to prepare meals, and the Lending Locker, where guests can borrow common household items to use during their stay.

Reservations can be made by calling 1-888-CANDLEWOOD or by going to IHG.com/Candlewood. The Candlewood Suites brand participates in IHG’s loyalty program, IHG® Rewards Club. The industry’s first and largest hotel rewards program is free, and guests can enroll at IHGRewardsClub.com, by downloading the IHG® app, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of any of IHG’s more than 4,800 hotels worldwide. Guests can also book an environmentally-friendly hotel stay at any of our IHG Green Engage® enrolled hotels.