Media Buzz

CROWNE PLAZA RETURNS TO MARYLAND HERITAGE
$9 million conversion announced for Rockville, Md., brand’s original birthplace

ATLANTA (March 13, 2007) – IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, today announced its plan for a 150-room Crowne Plaza hotel where the brand opened its first hotel in 1983—Rockville, Md. The conversion of the Atrium Court Hotel to Crowne Plaza Rockville follows a $9 million renovation and will be located just outside Washington, D.C.  The full conversion is expected to be completed by this summer.

The contemporary suburban Crowne Plaza Rockville will offer guests an escape from the hustle and bustle of the nation’s capital, with easy access to all three Washington area airports and an upscale experience with all the expected amenities.

The three-story, atrium property is owned and managed by Sunburst Hospitality, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group. Sunburst has invested $6 million in renovations to the hotel including a business service center, upscale room amenities, a 3,700 sq.-ft. terrace, high-speed Internet access, wireless Internet access from common areas, 2,000 sq- ft. fitness and health center, and a restaurant and lounge. The hotel will be 100 percent smoke-free.

“We are pleased to bring our industry-leading meetings services back to the city that first introduced the Crown Plaza Brand,” said Kevin Kowalski, vice president, Brand Management, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, North America. “Although the brand has exponentially grown since our first build in Rockville, our fundamental goal of providing travelers with state-of-the-art meeting facilities and exceptional amenities is still our top priority.”

Located just 12 miles from Washington, D.C., the Crowne Plaza Rockville is situated amidst Maryland’s I-270 Technology Corridor.  It is just minutes form the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Nuclear Regulatory Agency and the Department of Energy.  Nearby companies include Human Genome, Westat, Medimune, Otsuka, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and the Johns Hopkins Rockville Research Campus.

The Rockville hotel will feature the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage program, which is available at all Crowne Plaza hotels in the Americas.  Sleep Advantage encompasses the entire sleep experience, from training staff on how to create and maintain a restful environment to providing innovative products and services. Program components include new bedding, guaranteed wake-up calls, designated quiet zones, night lights, drape clips, sleep CDs, sleep tips and amenities such as eye masks, ear plugs and lavender spray.

Also consistent with the Crowne Plaza brand, the hotel will offer a comprehensive meetings package to ensure a seamless planning process and exceptional meeting experience consisting of three key components: a Two-Hour Response Guarantee, Crowne Meetings Director and a Meetings Daily Debrief. With more than 13,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, including a 5,000 sq.-ft Remington Grand Ballroom and six meeting rooms, the Crowne Plaza Rockville will provide business travelers with the ideal venue for both meetings and social functions. All meeting rooms feature complimentary wireless high speed Internet access.

Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts participates in Priority Club Rewards. With more than 31 million members, Priority Club® Rewards is the first, largest and fastest-growing guest loyalty program in the hotel industry.  Winner of the 18th Annual Freddie Awards hotel loyalty “Program of the Year” and named “Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World” by Global Traveler magazine, Priority Club Rewards offers more sought-after benefits and the greatest ease of use of any hotel loyalty program. 

Enrollment in Priority Club Rewards is free. Guests can enroll by logging on at priorityclub.com, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of any of IHG’s 3,700 hotels worldwide.

Crowne Plaza was recently recognized by Lodging Hospitality magazine as one of the industry’s top growing brands. As part of the InterContinental Hotels Group global portfolio, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts has nearly 260 hotels in 48 countries, and are located in major urban centers, gateway cities and resort destinations. For reservations at Crowne Plaza properties, visit www.crowneplaza.com or call 1-800-2CROWNE.

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Notes to Editors:

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC of the United Kingdom [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. InterContinental Hotels Group owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 3,700 hotels and 556,000 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, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites® and Hotel Indigo®, and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards with over 31 million members worldwide.

InterContinental Hotels Group offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at www.ihg.com and information or the Priority Club Rewards program at www.priorityclub.com.