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Holiday Inn Hotel Franchise Relaunches 2,500 Hotels Globally and Celebrates 40th Anniversary in Mexico

By: Holiday Inn Express |  2 Shares     120 Reads

Holiday Inn Poza Rica Aeropuerto marks both anniversary and milestone in the $1 billion global brand relaunch

June 21, 2010 // Franchising.com // ATLANTA - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms announced today the relaunch of its 2,500th hotel, the Holiday Inn Poza Rica Aeropuerto, in Poza Rica, Veracruz, Mexico.

Holiday Inn is undergoing the biggest relaunch in the hospitality industry with a $1 billion investment across more than 3,300 hotels and 430,000 rooms worldwide. First announced in October 2007, the relaunch is designed to improve quality and drive consistency at all Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels around the world.

"We have a lot to celebrate this month with two important milestones in our brand journey. First, we have now relaunched 2,500 hotels or more than 75% of the total estate for the Holiday Inn brand family around the world. At the same time we are celebrating the 40th anniversary for Holiday Inn in Mexico", said Kevin Kowalski, senior vice president, Global Brand Management, Holiday Inn Brands. "In Mexico, along with 70 other countries around the world, we will soon have a completely refreshed estate with every hotel delivering a consistently great stay."

Through founder Kemmons Wilson's innovative vision, the Holiday Inn brand became the first to offer franchising opportunities in Mexico. This caused a sensation among investors to build Holiday Inn hotels since they were so widely recognized by both domestic and international tourists. The first Holiday Inn in Mexico opened in 1970 in Acapulco and set the stage for all hotels to come in this industrious country. From its bold architectural design, to the gardens, pool and bustling restaurant scene, Holiday Inn became the place to be no matter what city you were in. Today, 70% of the Holiday Inn estate in Mexico has been relaunched continuing that tradition, with modern upgrades and amenities, improved guest satisfaction and RevPAR outperformance. And the newly built Holiday Inn Poza Rica Aeropuerto is expected to bring the same success to the Mexican hotel landscape as well.

In addition to the 3,300 open hotels globally, which includes 86 in Mexico, there are 865 hotels in the Holiday Inn global development pipeline. New openings combined with the removal of lower quality hotels will mean that 40% of the Holiday Inn estate will be less than 10 years old by the end of 2010, when the global relaunch will be completed.

The relaunch focuses on the things research shows matter most to guests - a modern, contemporary hotel with efficient, friendly service and a great night's sleep.

Relaunched hotels feature:

• Upgraded and decluttered lobby areas
• A Holiday Inn scent and sound
• New bedding
• Upgraded showers and bathroom amenities
• New exterior lighting and landscaping
• New signage with the redesigned logo
• All Holiday Inn employees also go through an extensive "Stay Real" training program to ensure guests receive the level of service they expect

Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express are in 100 countries worldwide and welcome over 100 million guests every year.

About Holiday Inn

With more than 1,300 hotels worldwide, Holiday Inn Hotels is the most widely recognized lodging brand in the world. In fact, Holiday Inn was one of the first international hotel brands to establish a presence in China in 1984. Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts provides the services that business travelers need, while also offering a comfortable atmosphere where all people can relax and enjoy amenities such as restaurants and room service, swimming pools, fitness centers and comfortable lounges. The casual atmosphere and amenities such as meeting and on-site business facilities, KidSuites rooms and, Kids Eat and Stay Free programs, demonstrate the long-standing commitment of Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts to serving travelers and have helped to establish the brand as "America's Favorite Hotel."

About Holiday Inn Express

Holiday Inn Express hotels are modern hotels 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 and Canada only). There are currently more than 1,900 Holiday Inn Express hotel locations around the globe.

Notes to Editors:

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 4,400 hotels and more than 650,000 guest rooms in 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of well recognized and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®, and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards with 48 million members worldwide.

IHG has over 1,300 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 160,000 jobs worldwide over the next few years.

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

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