ATLANTA, Nov. 29, 2005 - As reported in the IHG Plc. 3rd Quarter stock
exchange announcement issued on November 22nd, the Americas region of InterContinental
Hotels Group, (IHG) (NYSE: IHG; London)(ADRs) continues to show great momentum
as it executes against its franchise and management growth strategies.
In September 2005, IHG announced it is expanding its upscale Americas
portfolio with the addition of the InterContinental San Francisco. This
property will join its sister hotel, the InterContinental Mark Hopkins
San Francisco. This property is scheduled to open in late 2007.
"With IHG's strong focus on expanding its InterContinental Hotels &
Resorts brand in key U.S. gateway cities, the InterContinental San Francisco
is a tremendous and welcome addition to our portfolio of hotels," said
Kirk Kinsell, SVP and chief development officer, the Americas, IHG.
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts continues to grow its presence
in the Americas region. Most recently, the company's flagship hotel, the
InterContinental Buckhead, Atlanta opened in November 2004 and the InterContinental
Merita, Mexico opened in November 2005. By the end of 2005, the InterContinental
Playa Bonita Resort & Spa, Panama will join the portfolio. And, currently
under construction is the InterContinental Boston scheduled to open in
Fall 2006.
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has five hotels in the Americas
pipeline to complement its existing 44 upper-upscale segment hotels in
the region. And, an additional 16 hotels are in the global pipeline to
complement its total portfolio of 137 hotels worldwide, including two properties
which opened this quarter the InterContinental Hotel Dusseldorf, Germany
and the InterContinental Hotel Jordan, Jordan.
IHG's continued development momentum in the Americas region is evidenced
across all seven hotel brands (November 2005):
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With IHG�s increased emphasis on development of its upscale brands, Crowne
Plaza is expanding its North American portfolio with 17 hotels in the pipeline
to complement its existing 131 hotels. Crowne Plaza continues to differentiate
its brand offering with THE PLACE TO MEET and the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage�
program.
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Holiday Inn, �America�s Favorite Hotel�, continues its growth momentum
with 141 properties in the Americas pipeline to complement its 1,039 existing
middle market hotels.
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Holiday Inn Express, the fastest-growing hotel brand in the limited-service
hotel category, has 374 properties in the Americas development pipeline.
It continues to open an average of two hotels per week, and has grown to
more than 1,409 hotels since its introduction in the early 1990s.
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Hotel Indigo, the industry�s first lifestyle brand, delivers a refreshing,
inclusive hotel experience in response to prevailing consumer trends. With
Hotel Indigo�s phenomenal reception, it is primed for continued expansion
across the U.S. The first Hotel Indigo opened in Atlanta in October 2004,
and a second location recently opened in Chicago�s historic Gold Coast
neighborhood in May 2005. Future sites of Hotel Indigo hotels include Chicago-Palatine,
Dallas, Knoxville, Nashville and Sarasota.
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Staybridge Suites reached 75 hotels faster than any other competitor in
the upscale extended-stay segment with 83 now open and an additional 68
in the Americas pipeline.
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Acquired by IHG at the end of 2004, Candlewood Suites has more hotels in
the pipeline than any other brand in the midscale extended-stay segment.
It has 111 properties with another 66 properties in the Americas pipeline.
Candlewood Suites won the 3rd Quarter 2005 Market Metrix Hospitality Index
(MMHI) for the extended-stay segment. Based on 35,000 customer interviews,
the MMHI is the largest and most in-depth measure of hotel, airline and
car rental performance available today.
Helping further the success and momentum of its brands, IHG's integrated
approach helps unify marketing initiatives so that hotels benefit from
each others' efforts and learn from each other -- while keeping the brands
distinct and differentiated to their customer segments. This is done by
offering current and prospective franchisees a multi-brand marketing platform
comprised of our Enterprise Values -- technology, global reservations centers,
global sales, performance support, and Priority Club® Rewards; as well
as, fostering a collaborative, 'Together We're Stronger' relationship with
its hotel owners.
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