Expanding the Crowne Plaza portfolio

Latin Trade, Feb, 2005

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), the world's largest and most global hotel company, is expanding its Crowne Plaza portfolio throughout Latin America. By opening new properties, renovating existing guestrooms and business facilities, while offering guests a uniquely comfortable "Sleep Experience," IHG is positioning its Crowne Plaza properties as "The Place to Meet"--an ideal venue for holding business and social events.

"In just one year, we are doubling our inventory of Crowne Plaza hotels in Latin America," says Carlos Baruki, area director of sales and marketing, IHG Latin America. "By 2005, we will have nine Crowne Plazas in major cities throughout the region."

IHG's Crowne Plaza properties include:

* Crowne Plaza Managua (Nicaragua). In 2004, IHG converted the venerable InterContinental Managua in an award-winning renovation project. The 150-room hotel is one of the city's landmarks with one of the most modern convention facilities in Central America. The hotel was also the recipient of IHG's "Torchbearer" award.

* Crowne Plaza Curitiba (Brazil). IHG recently opened this 17-story, 88-room upscale hotel adjacent to the city's business and financial districts.

* Crowne Plaza Panama (Panama). IHG is converting the former Holiday Inn Panama into a 150-room, 11-story property in the Panama City business district.

* Crowne Plaza Sao Paulo (Brazil), a 217-room property with a full business center.

* Crowne Plaza Santiago (Chile), a property with 300 rooms and convention center facilities that recently received IHG's "Torchbearer" award for guest satisfaction.

* Crowne Plaza Panamericano Buenos Aires, a 386-room hotel that received IHG's prestigious "Renovation Excellence Award," for a multi-million dollar renovation.

In 2005, IHG will also be opening the Crowne Plaza Guatemala in Guatemala City, the Crowne Plaza Belem in Brazil and the Crowne Plaza Asuncion, the company's first property in Paraguay.

"We are devoting considerable resources to our Crowne Plaza brand," says Baruki. "That includes our 'Sleep Advantage' program to ensure that all business travelers and guests experience a good night's sleep."

Rather than simply update guestroom beds, IHG focused on the entire sleep experience, from training staff on how to create and maintain a restful environment to providing innovative products and services.

"We understand that it takes more than a comfortable bed to get a great night's sleep," says Kevin Kowalski, vice president of brand management for Crowne Plaza. "Our aim is to help business travelers perform their best when away from home."

IHG is also upgrading meeting and convention services at many Crowne Plaza hotels in the region. In addition, Crowne Plaza is also setting several global meeting standards:

* 2-Hour Response Guarantee. An industry-first, two-hour response by Crowne Plaza hotels to Request for Proposals (RFPs)

* Crowne Meetings Director. A single point of contact through out the meeting experience provided by a senior-level hotel staff member and a Certified Meeting Professional to ensure the success of an event

* Meetings Daily Debrief. A daily briefing document with updated totals on expenses including contracted billing, budget expenses to date and estimated final billings

The Crowne Plaza Hotels in Latin America also offer several value-added programs, including Meeting Options, a program that allows meeting planners to customize their event with complimentary options. For more information, visit www.crowneplaza.com.

InterContinental Hotels Group owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, more than 3,500 hotels and 538,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. IHG owns a portfolio of well recognized and respected hotel brands including InterContinental[R] Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza[R] Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn [R] Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express[R], Staybridge Suites[R], Candlewood Suites[R] and Hotel Indigo[TM]. For more information, visit www.ichotelsgroup.com