IHG To Open Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites in Downtown Boston

By: Holiday Inn Express | 0 Shares 182 Reads

Renovated historic property to open this summer

February 28, 2008 // Franchising.com // ATLANTA - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], one of the world's largest hotel groups by number of rooms announced today that a 72-room Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites is coming to downtown Boston. The hotel is expected to open this summer after a $2 million renovation to a historic 100-year-old building.

Located on Friend Street, directly across from the TD Banknorth Garden, the property will allow guests to be within walking distance to Boston's famed historical attractions, including Fanueil Hall, Boston Commons, Beacon Hill and the Old North Church. Also nearby are Boston Harbor, The New England Aquarium and the North End, home to Boston's Little Italy. Boston City Hall, Massachusetts General Hospital and the Tip O'Neill Federal Building are close by.

"Holiday Inn Express hotels are designed to be the smart choice for value-conscious business and leisure travelers," said John Merkin, senior vice president, Brand Management, Holiday Inn brands. "We know our guests will enjoy the experience of a unique historical property in one of the oldest cities in the U.S. that still provides the contemporary comforts and services they have come to expect."

Guests at the Holiday Inn Express will experience a comfortable and smart environment with innovative preferred guest upgrades to ensure a productive stay while traveling for business or leisure. The hotel's newly enhanced complimentary Express Start® breakfast bar will feature a full selection of breakfast items including cheddar cheese omelets, bacon, biscuits, yogurt, fruit and the brand's proprietary cinnamon roll and Smart Roast® coffee. The SimplySmartTM shower will incorporate a proprietary Stay SmartTM Kohler showerhead, upgraded 100 percent cotton terry towels and a new line of cinnamon-scented bath products into each guest bathroom. Guests at the hotel also will enjoy the brand's fresh, new SimplySmartTM bedding collection that features an attractive decorative top sheet, a medium-weight duvet blanket and soft 200 thread-count sheets.

The newly renovated five-story property will offer business travelers a variety of key amenities such as free high speed wireless Internet access throughout the hotel, free local phone calls (U.S. and Canada only), phone with private voicemail and free daily delivery of USA Today. Guests will also have access to an on-site fitness center and business center, and all guestrooms will have a 32" LCD flat panel television. Standard Holiday Inn Express guest rooms feature a comfortable king-sized bed, or two comfortable double beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair and an in-room coffee machine featuring complimentary Smart Roast 100% Arabica coffee. The hotel will also offer 15 suites with wet bar, microwave and refrigerator.

"We invested $2 million in renovations to meet Holiday Inn Express brand standards, and we are very pleased with the resulting urban contemporary design," said Karla Lyon, general manager. "Holiday Inn Express has excellent brand recognition and loyalty, which will help us attract business and leisure travelers who are looking to stay smart in downtown Boston."

Holiday Inn Express participates in IHG's guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards. The industry's first and largest guest loyalty program has over 37 million members. Priority Club Rewards membership is free and guests can enroll by logging on at priorityclub.com, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of this hotel or any of IHG's 3,900 hotels worldwide.

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Boston-Downtown is owned by Gemini Real Estate Advisors and managed by Gemini Hospitality Management, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group and will be located at 280 Friend St.

About Holiday Inn Express

Holiday Inn Express is the modern hotel for value-oriented travelers. Fresh, clean and uncomplicated, Holiday Inn Express hotels offer competitive rates for both business and leisure travelers. Guests Stay Smart® at Holiday Inn Express hotels where they enjoy a free hot Express Start® Breakfast Bar, free high-speed internet access and free local phone calls (US only). There are currently more than 1,800 Holiday Inn Express locations around the globe. For more information about Holiday Inn Express or to book reservations, call 1-800-HOLIDAY or visit http://www.hiexpress.com/.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) of the United Kingdom [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is one of the world's largest hotel groups by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, almost 4,000 hotels and more than 585,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. IHG owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites® and Hotel Indigo®, and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club® Rewards with over 37 million members worldwide.

The company pioneered the travel industry's first collaborative response to environmental issues as founder of the International Hotels and Environment Initiative (IHEI). The IHEI formed the foundations of the Tourism Partnership launched by the International Business Leaders Forum in 2004, of which IHG is still a member today. The environment and local communities remain at the heart of IHG's global corporate responsibility focus.

IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at http://www.ihg.com/ and information for the Priority Club Rewards programme at http://www.priorityclub.com/.

For the latest news from IHG, visit our online Press Office at www.ihg.com/media

InterContinental Hotels Group is a registered company. For more information go to: www.ihg.com/legal