IHG announces four new hotel openings in port Ghalib Resort, Egypt after being awarded management contract

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July 14, 2008 // Franchising.com // IHG today announces that Sovereign Hospitality Holdings, owned by M.A. Kharafi Group of Kuwait, has awarded IHG the exclusive management contract for Port Ghalib Resort, in Marsa Alam, Egypt.

The resort will now feature an InterContinental Hotel, two Crowne Plaza hotels and an International Convention Centre. IHG will also manage the Marina Lodge Hotel which will remain individually branded. IHG is commencing operation of the four primary properties from today.

John Bamsey, Chief Operating Officer, IHG, Middle East & Africa, said: "This is a very significant moment for IHG and we are delighted to be working with Sovereign Hospitality Holdings. IHG has partnered several projects with Sovereign Hospitality Holdings and have formed a strong and lasting relationship. We look forward to continuing this partnership as we take the reigns of Port Ghalib Resort. "

The 309 room InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib Resort - which includes 14 Royal Suites - has extensive views of the Red Sea from every angle.

The 347-room Crowne Plaza Sahara Sands Port Ghalib Resort and the 292-room Crowne Plaza Sahara Oasis Port Ghalib Resort sit alongside the northern and eastern sides of a manmade lagoon.

With a grand ballroom capable of seating 1500 people and 18 meeting rooms equipped with the latest in digital technology, the International Convention Centre is the only one of its kind on the Red Sea.

Mohamed Fahmy, Chief Executive of Sovereign Hospitality Holdings commented: "Sovereign Hospitality Holdings is very pleased to once again be working alongside IHG. IHG has a strong and successful reputation throughout the world for providing guests with quality hotel accommodation, making them the ideal choice to provide the services for Port Ghalib Resort. Their commitment to both their owners and guests is unparalleled and Sovereign Hospitality Holdings looks forward to continuing this mutually beneficial relationship."

IHG currently has 79 properties and 19,467 rooms across five hotel brands in the Middle East & Africa region. There are a further 41 properties and 10,819 rooms in the development pipeline.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [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 590,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group 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.

IHG pioneered the travel industry's first collaborative response to environmental issues as founder of the International Hotels and Environment Initiative (IHEI). The environment and local communities remain at the heart of IHG's global corporate responsibility focus. IHG is the first major hotel group to have measured the environmental and carbon footprints of hotels that operate under our brands globally and is in the process of setting reduction targets.

With more than 1,600 hotels in its development pipeline, IHG needs to recruit around 150,000 people over the next few years to meet its global expansion plans.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards programme at www.priorityclub.com. For the latest news from IHG, visit our online Press Office at www.ihg.com/media