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IHG Opens First Holiday Inn Hotel in Colombia

By: InterContinental Hotels Group |  1 Shares     96 Reads

New property further expands IHG's brand portfolio across South America

July 26, 2011 // Franchising.com // MIAMI, FL - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, and Latin America's most experienced international hotel company, today announced the opening of the Holiday Inn Bogota-Airport in Bogota, Colombia. It is IHG's sixth property in the country, across four brands - InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts and Holiday Inn Express®.

The new-build, eight-story Holiday Inn Bogota-Airport features 191 rooms and is located within ten minutes of El Dorado International Airport. Situated within the vibrant neighborhood of El Salitre, one of Bogota's most important and modern business districts, the property is part of a mixed-use complex called Centro Empresarial Arrecife (Arrecife Corporate Center) and near the Corferias Convention Center, the United States Embassy, Bogota's main industrial park and downtown Bogota. The Holiday Inn Bogota-Airport, located at Avenida Calle 26 #69-D-91 in Bogota, is owned by Alianza Fiduciaria S.A., under a franchise agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group. The hotel will be operated by METRO hotels on behalf of Alianza Fiduciaria S.A.

"We are excited to open the first of two Holiday Inn hotels that will open this year in Colombia, a market that IHG knows well," said Alvaro Diago, COO, IHG, Latin America and Caribbean. "IHG has had a presence within the country for more than 50 years. Our growth in the Colombian market has been steady and we are committed to continue IHG's multi-brand expansion in this thriving country."

"We are confident of the strength of the Holiday Inn brand, and think the Holiday Inn Bogota-Airport will provide a unique guest experience, offering the convenience, dependability and atmosphere of a hotel in El Salitre, an important financial and economic hub in Bogota," said Juan Manuel Quijano of METRO Hotels.

With a population of more than 44 million, improved security and a dynamic economy, Colombia has emerged as a key strategic market for Latin America. Bogotá, the capital, is the largest metropolitan city in the country and the main economic center of Colombia. A vibrant city, Bogota is not only recognized as a center in the region for the development of the arts but for its beautiful cathedrals, major universities, grand theaters and an array of entertainment and nightlife venues.

The Holiday Inn Bogota-Airport features fresh and stylish décor and an array of amenities, including eight elegantly designed meeting rooms, totaling 4,842 square feet (450 square meters) and with a 400-person capacity. The hotel also boasts a 24-hour gym, full-service restaurant and a business center.

The new hotel showcases the successful completion of the $1 billion Holiday Inn global brand relaunch, the largest project ever of its kind in the history of the hospitality industry. The relaunch includes a renewed focus on quality, improved arrival and welcome features, enhanced bedding and showers, a "Stay Real" service culture and a new, up to date look, including a redesigned logo and signage.

Holiday Inn guestroom accommodations feature comfortable double, queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair, cable television, hairdryer, coffee maker, iron and ironing board. Guest beds are made using crisp, white bedding with pillows that come in two comfort levels: "soft" and "firm." Bathrooms include a specially designed showerhead that offers superior pressure, as well as a signature shower curtain with curved rod and new amenities. Guestrooms provide a work desk and ergonomic chair, data ports and in-room check-out capabilities. Complimentary wireless high speed Internet access is also available throughout the hotel.

IHG has five hotels in Colombia: two InterContinental Hotels, one Crowne Plaza, and two Holiday Inn Express properties. Two IHG-branded properties are currently under development. The Holiday Inn Cartagena Morros is scheduled to open next month (August 2011) and the InterContinental Cartagena is slated to open in 2013. The Holiday Inn Bogota-Airport is the first Holiday Inn hotel in the country.

"Bogota is an important business destination in South America and is undoubtedly the best city for us to introduce the brand to the country," said Ricardo Lopez, vice president, sales & marketing, IHG, Latin America and Caribbean. "We believe the Holiday Inn Bogota-Airport will enjoy great success and perform well in Colombia due to the strong global brand recognition, which is a strong draw for local and international guests."

IHG has nearly 200 hotels in Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean, and has been serving Latin America for 65 years. IHG has hotels situated in nearly every key market throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Holiday Inn hotels participate in IHG's guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards, the industry's first and largest guest loyalty program with 58 million members. Priority Club Rewards membership is free and guests can enroll by logging on http://www.priorityclub.com/, calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of this hotel or any of IHG's nearly 4,400 hotels worldwide.

About Holiday Inn

With more than 1,200 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." For more information about Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Resorts, including

IHG's new vacation resort brand Holiday Inn Club Vacations, or to book reservations, call 1-800-HOLIDAY or visit http://www.holidayinn.com/.

Notes to Editors:

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global company operating seven well-known 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®. IHG also manages Priority Club® Rewards, the world's first and largest hotel loyalty program with 58 million members worldwide.

IHG is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms and IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns, through various subsidiaries, a portfolio of over 4,400 hotels and more than 652,000 guest rooms in 100 countries and territories around the world.

IHG has more than 1,200 hotels in its development pipeline and expects to recruit around 160,000 people 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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