John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. Receives Three Prestigious Honors from Intercontinental Hotels Group

Business Wire, Nov 23, 2004

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. (AMEX:JQH) proudly announces that three of its Holiday Inn(R) properties recently received top honors from InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) for achieving high levels of excellence among the brand's system of more than 3,500 hotels. The awards were presented during a special ceremony at the 2004 IHG Americas Investors & Leadership Conference in Chicago, on October 20-22, 2004. Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels is the nation's leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites.

"Providing quality service and achieving customer satisfaction is a primary goal at John Q. Hammons Hotels," said Mr. John Q. Hammons, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. "We are committed to excellence at each of our Holiday Inn hotels, and the awards truly exhibit our dedication to providing first-class service that exceeds each guest's expectations."

In appreciation of their hard work, superior performance, and exceptional property representation, the following John Q. Hammons Hotels' general managers and properties were selected as recipients of this year's awards:

--Colleen Viter, 2004 Torchbearer Award, Holiday Inn University Plaza in Bowling Green, Ky.

--Kevin Smith, 2004 Quality Excellence Award, Holiday Inn Northwest Arkansas in Springdale, Ark.

--Brian Sims, 2004 Quality Excellence Award, Holiday Inn Springfield North in Springfield, Mo.

--Bonnie Hall, Director of Sales of the Year, Holiday Inn University Plaza in Bowling Green, Ky.

The Torchbearer Award is the organization's most prestigious award. It was given to 42 hotels within the IHG system for achieving the highest levels of excellence in all aspects of operation, from quality to customer satisfaction. As a symbol of excellence, a Torchbearer trophy is placed on permanent display at all hotels that receive this honor.

The Quality Excellence Award recognizes hotels for their overall quality. It was awarded to 171 properties in the IHG system that achieved distinction in all aspects of their operations, including high standards in product quality, hotel standards and customer satisfaction.

About the Holiday Inn Brand

With more than 1,500 properties worldwide and more than 1,000 in the U.S., Holiday Inn is the most recognized lodging brand in the world. Holiday Inn hotels provide the services that business travelers need, while also offering a comfortable, casual atmosphere where guests can relax and enjoy a variety of amenities. Each Holiday Inn property managed by John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. is uniquely designed with tastefully appointed guestrooms and suites, excellent restaurants, and meeting and conference facilities. Site amenities include pool, whirpool and sauna, and fully outfitted exercise areas. The hotel's staff caters to a group's specialized needs and provides a full-range of event planning assistance and catering. The hotel features amenities for both business and leisure travelers, including voicemail, dual line phones with dataport, hair dryer, coffee maker, iron and ironing board, remote control color television and room service. For more information about John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc.'s Holiday Inn properties call 1-800-HOLIDAY or visit www.jqhhotels.com.

About InterContinental Hotels Group

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC of the United Kingdom (LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)) is the world's most global hotel company and the largest international group by number of rooms. 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 (www.ichotelsgroup.com). InterContinental Hotels Group 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) and also has a controlling interest in Britvic, the second largest soft drinks manufacturer in the UK.

InterContinental Hotels Group offers information and reservations capability on the Internet -- www.intercontinental.com for InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, www.crowneplaza.com for Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, www.holiday-inn.com for Holiday Inn hotels, www.hiexpress.com for Holiday Inn Express hotels, www.staybridge.com for Staybridge Suites hotels, www.candlewoodsuites.com for Candlewood Suites, www.hotelindigo.com for Hotel Indigo and for the Group's rewards program, www.priorityclub.com.

For the latest news from InterContinental Hotels Group, please visit its online Press Office at www.pressoffice.ihgplc.com.

About John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc.

Publicly traded on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX:JQH), Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. is the nation's leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites, including: Embassy Suites Hotels, Renaissance, Marriott, Radisson, Residence Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Holiday Inn and Courtyard by Marriott brands. With 58 hotels strategically located near demand generators, such as state capitals, universities, airports, corporate headquarters or office parks in secondary and tertiary markets, John Q. Hammons Hotels' properties are dominant in their markets. The company's focus is capitalizing on positive operating fundamentals in the upscale, full-service sector, converting existing hotels to franchise brands and selling mature assets, while reinvesting the proceeds and reducing debt. Over the course of his impressive career in the hotel business, Mr. Hammons has developed 157 hotels.