InterContinental Hotels & Resorts: serving today's global business traveler

Latin Trade, Jan-Feb, 2003

For more than 50 years, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has been serving the needs of business and leisure travelers in Latin America and around the world. Today, the prestigious global chain has enhanced its offerings by building new hotels, upgrading many older properties, and setting even higher standards for service.

In the past two years, Six Continents Hotels, owners of the InterContinental brand, has invested more than US$1 billion to renovate and remodel its global portfolio of InterContinental Hotels, while continuing to open new properties. Following its own recent survey of more than 1,000 international business travelers from 25 countries, InterContinental is rolling out extensive new guest services and amenities designed for the 21st century traveler.

"Our customers take their work and leisure time equally seriously," says Alvaro Diago, Latin America President of Six Continents Hotels.

"Four out of 10 of the global business leaders surveyed said their travel service standards have increased in the past five years. Two-thirds also said that in the last year, they've increased their use of communications technology while they travel, InterContinental is changing along with them, and we've invested millions in new hotels, in upgrading hotels and in a raft of service initiatives to respect their requirements, from faster check-in to new technology," he adds.

For travelers to Latin America, the new service initiatives provide greater convenience, and strengthen InterContinental's position as the premier upscale hotel brand. "We recognize that travelers may be coming from a different time zone or need to communicate with their home office at any time of the day or night," adds Diago. . "In addition, we have trained our employees to implement our new programs to give travelers the maximum benefit from our services."

Global Connections[TM]

"Answering the need to stay in touch"

* WorldLink[TM] -- A power and phone jack adapter in every room, allowing the guest to travel without carrying unnecessary cables and adapters. This ensures easy connectivity with appliances such as laptop computers and digital cameras from the guest's home country.

* WorldPrint -- Guests can request delivery of a fax machine and printer to their room for private use.

* WorldNews -- Guests staying at an InterContinental hotel will have access to their preferred local newspaper, wherever they may be traveling.

* WorldChannels -- Guests can watch TV programming from their native country and in their own language.

Little Things That Make A Difference[TM]

* Instant Money -- For the international traveler, a pack of local currency worth about US$25 in small denominations is available at the front desk and can be charged direct to the guest's folio for an easier account of expenses. Also included is a guide on local tipping and customs.

* Instant Refresher--A complimentary 15-minute head and neck massage offered to guests to help relieve the stresses of a long flight or a busy working day.

* Jet Lag Recovery Kit--A pack of special aromatherapy products and helpful hints and tips offered to the international guest, helping them to adjust to local time zone changes.

* Insider Concierge--A distinctive concierge service offering exceptional levels of attention to every guest's needs.

* Insider's Guide to the City--A guidebook offering the "inside track" to the city, with the best local restaurants, sights and city experiences that most guides do not cover, in order to provide guests with the type of local experience they desire.

* Insider Shopping Pro--A personalized service with a local specialist who, at the guest's convenience, will arrange the purchase of appropriate business or personal gifts.

In An Instant[TM]

"Where there is an instant need for service"

* Instant Check-In [TM] --

Six Continents Club and Priority Club Rewards members can take advantage of a smooth, easy check-in process that removes unnecessary steps that rob guests' precious time.

* Instant Check-Out[TM --

Six Continents Club and Priority Club Rewards members can check out of the hotel and leave without having to wait in line at reception to pay. Instant Check-Out is a service already widely embraced by most hotels in the United States, but only now being rolled out internationally.

* Instant Service Button--This is the 21st century version of a butler. One telephone button in the room serves as a single point of contact for all inquiries, excluding room service orders.

Around The Clock[TM]

"Services when you need them"

* Business center available 24 hours a day.

* Gym/health club available 24 hours a day.

* Valet available 24 hours a day.

Central Reservations System

* InterContinental guests also benefit from a new advanced central reservations system, HolidexPlus, which allows hotels to mix and match room rates and types for more personalized service and greater flexibility.

A PROUD HISTORY IN LATIN AMERICA

InterContinental was born in Latin America, when Pan American World Airlines opened the Hotel Grande in Belem, Brazil, in 1946. Belem was the closest location to Africa for PanAm's round-the-world flights, and the new InterContinental provided businessmen with clean and comfortable accommodations.