Patent Marks Major Milestone for the Brand's Proprietary "Guest Room of the Future"

ATLANTA, Aug. 28, 2018– The Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts brand today announced the approval of its patent application for the WorkLife Room: the brand's innovative "guestroom of the future." The newly-patented concept is designed to help modern business travelers unleash their productivity and provide them with a space that fits their blended lifestyle.

The WorkLife Room was developed as part of the Crowne Plaza Accelerate program, IHG's $200 million, multi-year investment to transform the Crowne Plaza brand in the Americas region. Following the WorkLife Room's market debut in early 2017, the patent approval marks a major milestone in the brand's quest to bring innovative design to the fold for the modern business traveler.

With a flexible environment and distinct zones that encourage guests to work, relax and recharge, the key elements of WorkLife guestrooms include:

  • Angled bed, which opens up more space for the room's distinct zones. The cocooning headboard, Beautyrest mattress, plush linens and Sleep Advantage® aromatherapy kit help guests rest.
  • Sofa nook, a multi-purpose space for reading, watching TV, working, meeting with colleagues or kicking back with room service.
  • Desk area, an uncluttered workspace where guests can focus.
  • Welcome station, which gets guests settled with a space for keys, bags and coats.
  • Bathroom, with modern and bright design to help guests feel re-energized by their routines.

Additionally, because connectivity is key for the modern traveler, the WorkLife Room delivers with fast, free Wi-Fi and enough charging stations – comprised of USB and power outlets – to power up to fourteen devices. Guests are never more than an arm's length away from a charging station and never have to move furniture to reach outlets.

Meredith Latham, Regional Vice President, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Americas said: "The patent approval of the Crowne Plaza brand's WorkLife Room is a major distinction – one that speaks to the concept's ground-breaking design, and one that demonstrates how the Crowne Plaza brand is redefining what a hotel room can be."

The WorkLife Room is currently available in Crowne Plaza properties nationwide. Three thousand WorkLife Rooms are expected to be installed by early 2019, including the brand's first-ever flagship property in the Americas, Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia.