IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), (LSE:IHG) (NYSE:IHG) (ADRs)] the
world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms, today announced that it
has signed a new franchise agreement for the Holiday Inn Express Rosario
in Argentina. The 9-story, 175-guestroom hotel will be located at Salta
1950, Rosario, Provincia de Santa Fe, in the commercial district and
close to many office buildings and the main port and is scheduled to
open in December 2009.
The Holiday Inn Express Rosario is owned and will be managed by
Organización Panamerica, S.A., under a franchise agreement with a
company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.
"This is our second hotel venture in Rosario with Organización
Panamerica, S.A., who also owns the Holiday Inn Rosario, and we are
thrilled to be nurturing our relationship with them,” said Alvaro Diago,
COO of IHG, Latin America and Caribbean. ”The Holiday Inn Express is one
of the fastest growing hotel brands in its segment offering competitive
rates that are ideal for both business and leisure travelers.”
The Holiday Inn Express Rosario will feature the brand’s new sign, which
marks the seal of approval that this hotel exemplifies the standards of
the $1 billion Holiday Inn brand relaunch program. First announced in
2007, the Holiday Inn global brand relaunch was established to create a
more contemporary brand image as part of the drive to increase quality
and consistency across the global portfolio. The program focuses on
arrival and welcome services, guestroom, and guest bath comfort. The
global estate of more than 3,300 Holiday Inn and
Holiday Inn Express properties is expected to be relaunched by the end
of 2010, and more than 1,200 hotels have been relaunched to date.
Elements of the relaunch for Holiday Inn Express include:
Redesigned Brand Signage
An evolution of the iconic script logo, energizing the signature color
green and eliminating the current shield shape for a more refreshed and
contemporary look.
Warm Welcome
A new signature arrival – including new lighting, landscaping and design
features – that creates an energized and branded sense of welcome that
is universally recognizable. Customized music and scent selections also
engage guests in a complete sensory experience, and a decluttered front
desk to promote a more efficient and interactive check-in process.
New Service Promise
A best-in-class service culture – "Stay Real” – to further ensure the
team develops the behaviors and skills to best serve guests so they feel
like individuals and not numbers. Genuine people delivering real
service. Leading the charge will be a newly created position at each
hotel – the Guest Experience Champion.
Guests at the Holiday Inn Express Rosario 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 range of breakfast items including a rotation of egg
and meat selections, biscuits, yogurt, and fruit. The SimplySmart™
shower incorporates a proprietary Stay Smart™ Kohler showerhead,
signature shower curtain with curved rod, upgraded 100 percent cotton
terry towels and a custom line of cinnamon-scented bath products. And,
guests will enjoy the SimplySmart™ bedding collection where they will
find new crisp fresh bedding which features an attractive decorative
throw, a medium-weight duvet blanket and soft 200 thread-count sheets.
"We are pleased to be entering into our second hotel agreement with
IHG,” said Cesar Bassetti a representative from Organización Panamerica,
S.A. "IHG is one of the most esteemed hotel companies in the world with
the most attractive brands, and we are certain travelers will find the
Holiday Inn Express Rosario to be one of the most modern hotels,
providing the utmost in comfort and experience at a great value.”
The Holiday Inn Express Rosario will boast amenities such as a fitness
room, business center, several meeting rooms and wireless Internet
access. Standard Holiday Inn Express hotel guest rooms feature
comfortable queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair
and an in-room coffee machine.
Located 300 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires, Rosario is the largest
city in the province of Santa Fe with a population of close to one
million. Rosario is also considered to be one of the
most important industrial cities in Argentina and is strategically
located on the Parana River where there is a major port with daily
shipments of goods which are exported daily to northeastern Argentina.
With more than 1,900 properties worldwide and more than 600 properties
in the global pipeline, the Holiday Inn Express portfolio continues to
expand in key markets in the Latin America region such as Bogotá,
Colombia; Quito, Ecuador; and Natal, Brazil; providing guests from
around the world with an enhanced stay experience at a great value.
IHG has more than 180 hotels in Mexico, Central and South America and
the Caribbean, and has been serving Latin America for over 60 years. IHG
has hotels situated in nearly every key market throughout the Latin
American territory.
Holiday Inn Express hotels participate in IHG’s guest loyalty program,
Priority Club® Rewards. The industry’s first and largest
guest loyalty program has over 44 million members. Priority Club Rewards
membership is free and guests can enroll by logging on www.priorityclub.com,
calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of this hotel
or any of IHG’s more than 4,300 hotels worldwide.
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 (U.S. only). There are currently more
than 1,900 Holiday Inn Express locations around the globe. For more
information about Holiday Inn Express or to book reservations, call
1-800-HOLIDAY or visit www.hiexpress.com.
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 4,300 hotels
and almost 630,000 guest rooms in nearly 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 44 million members worldwide.
IHG has nearly 1,600 hotels in its development pipeline, which will
create 140,000 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.
IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel
brands at www.ihg.com
and information for the Priority Club Rewards program at www.priorityclub.com.
For the latest news from IHG, visit our online Press Office at www.ihg.com/media.