InterContinental Hotels Group PLC : Holiday Inn Express® Brand Opens First Hotel in Querétaro

15 January, 2013 Holiday Inn Express® Brand Opens First Hotel in Querétaro

IHG Strengthens Presence in Thriving and Diverse Mexican City

México, D.F. - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], one of the world's leading global hotel companies, and Hotelera Queretana, S.A. de C.V., announces the opening of the Holiday Inn Express Querétaro. The new-build hotel opens following a $9 million investment by Hotelera Queretana to introduce the fast-growing Holiday Inn Express brand to the city of Querétaro. This is the first Holiday Inn Express hotel and the fifth IHG-branded hotel opened, as  IHG continues to solidify its presence in a city known for its modern infrastructure and connectivity, quality of life, and diverse tourist attractions.

The Holiday Inn Express Querétaro hotel is suitably located in the heart of the city - a historic center and designated as a World Heritage Site - within walking distance to downtown, and close to important industrial parks and corporate offices.

"This new hotel exemplifies the confidence that our franchisees have in Mexico, as well as in IHG," said Gerardo Murray, vice president of Sales and Marketing for IHG Mexico. "IHG is focused on finding the right opportunities to introduce the Holiday Inn Express brand in destinations with a strong demand for high-quality lodging options at a great value. The brand is designed to offer business and leisure travelers a comfortable, simple, fresh, and modern experience."

Features of the new property are in line with the $1 billion Holiday Inn global brand relaunch, the largest project of its kind in the history of the hospitality industry. The relaunch program has created 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 and a redesigned logo and signage.

The Holiday Inn Express Querétaro hotel is designed in a contemporary style, featuring the work of architect Hidalgo, and has 101 rooms, all with complimentary wireless internet access. In addition, there are 15 suites fully equipped with a full-size refrigerator, microwave and kitchen utensils. The hotel's facilities include a well-equipped gym and two whirlpool baths - both with spectacular views of the city, and valet parking

Guests 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 complimentary Express Start® breakfast bar features a full range of breakfast items including a rotation of egg and meat selections, biscuits, yogurt, fruit and the brand's proprietary cinnamon roll and Smart Roast® coffee.  The SimplySmart™ shower incorporates a proprietary Stay Smart™ Kohler showerhead, signature shower curtain with curved rod and upgraded 100 percent cotton terry towels.  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.

Guest rooms feature contemporary styling, a 32-inch HD flat screen TV, iPod docking station, comfortable queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair and an in-room coffee machine featuring complimentary coffee.  Business travelers will find large desks with ergonomic chairs, free high-speed internet access and free local phone and toll free phones with private voicemail.

The Holiday Inn Express Querétaro is owned and managed by Hotelera Queretana, S.A. de C.V under a license agreement with IHG. For more information and reservations at Holiday Inn Express Queretaro, visit www.hiexpress.com or call 1-888-HOLIDAY.

Holiday Inn Express participates in IHG's guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards.  The industry's first and largest guest loyalty program has 69 million members.  Priority Club Rewards membership is free and guests can enroll by logging on at priorityclub.com, by calling 1-888-897-0089 or by inquiring at the front desk of this hotel or any of IHG's more than 4,500 hotels worldwide.

About Holiday Inn Express
Holiday Inn Express hotels are modern hotels 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 (US and Canada only).  There are currently more than 2,000 Holiday Inn Express hotel locations around the globe.  For more information about Holiday Inn Express hotels or to book reservations, call 1-800-HOLIDAY or visit www.hiexpress.com.

Media Contacts:
Avalos Asociados, Comunicacion Corporativa, Lola Avalos, [e-mail], [phone]
Manjusha Sharma, Holiday Inn Express, [e-mail], [phone]

Notes to Editors:

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organization with nine hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites®, EVEN™ Hotels and HUALUXE™ Hotels & Resorts. IHG also manages Priority Club® Rewards, the world's first and largest hotel loyalty program with over 69 million members worldwide.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,500 hotels and more than 672,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories. With more than 1,000 hotels in its development pipeline, IHG expects to recruit around 90,000 people into additional roles across its estate 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.

Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.priorityclub.com for more on Priority Club Rewards. For our latest news, visit www.ihg.com/media, www.twitter.com/ihg, www.facebook.com/ihg or www.youtube.com/ihgplc.