InterContinental Hotels Group Latin America Continues Expansion of Hol

InterContinental Hotels Group Latin America Continues Expansion of Holiday Inn Brand in Brazil with Opening of Holiday Inn Salvador Bahia

    Business Editors/Travel & Hospitality Writers

    MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 7, 2005--

Property is the 29th Holiday Inn Hotel in Latin America
    Capitalizing on the growing needs of mid-market hotels in Brazil, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) (LSE:IHG) (NYSE:IHG) (ADRs), the world's largest and most global hotel company, continues its expansion of its popular Holiday Inn brand with the opening of the 250-room, 10-story Holiday Inn Salvador Bahia, located in Salvador Bahia, Brazil, in the country's northeast area. It is the company's 10th Holiday Inn property in Brazil, undoubtedly the hottest hotel market in Latin America.
    The Holiday Inn Salvador Bahia is located in Brazil's first capital, Salvador, which is home to the country's historical heritage and is also a source of what is new and vibrant in Brazilian culture. The hotel is also located next to the city's main convention center and the historic Pelourinho District, which dates back to the early 1600's and boasts several grand baroque-styled churches, plazas, and old colonial mansions.
    "Salvador is rapidly evolving into a major business and tourist destination in Brazil," says Alvaro Diago, Area President of InterContinental Hotels Group Latin America. "Becoming one of Brazil's favorite hotel brands, Holiday Inn has made it ideal for us to develop a property in such a booming economic environment with amazing natural beauty," adds Diago.
    IHG has committed itself to continue expanding the Holiday Inn brand in Latin America. In the past five years, it has tripled the number of Holiday Inn hotels throughout the Central and South American regions.
    "Our goal is to continue to capitalize on the growth of the mid-scale hotel market in Latin America," continues Diago. "And for the past 59 years, our roots have been established there. We are confident in our ability to understand, and most importantly, respond to the needs of this very distinct market."
    The Holiday Inn Salvador Bahia's 225 guestrooms and 25 suites include high-speed Internet access, cable TV, room safes, irons and ironing boards, coffee makers, mini-refrigerators and hairdryers. In addition, the hotel offers a bar, fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment, a business center, restaurant and outdoor swimming pool.
    "No doubt that the brunt of our expansion in Latin America will continue to be in Brazil," adds Tony Torres, Regional Director of Operations for Brazil of InterContinental Hotels Group Latin America. "It is a country with more than 173 million people, and the region's economic engine. We believe that there are endless possibilities when it comes to the growth of the Holiday Inn brand in Brazil."
    The Holiday Inn Salvador Bahia joins the InterContinental Hotels Group family in Brazil, which includes the InterContinental Rio, InterContinental Sao Paulo, Crowne Plaza Sao Paulo, Crowne Plaza Curitiba, Holiday Inn Parque Anhembi, Holiday Inn Fortaleza, Holiday Inn Porto Alegre, Holiday Inn Recife, Holiday Inn Express Curitiba-Airport, Holiday Inn Express Maceio, Holiday Inn Express Curitiba-Santa Felicidade and Staybridge Suites Century Plaza in Sao Paulo.
    "We are thrilled that we were able to open a hotel in the vibrant city of Salvador Bahia," says Torres. "This city has experienced tremendous growth, having recently opened a new airport, as well as undertaking the task of restoring the city's historic Pelourinho district. Salvador has transformed itself to become a key destination for tourists traveling to Brazil," concludes Torres. For almost six decades, IHG has been serving Latin America and is situated in nearly every key market in Central and South America, making it one of the leading hotel companies in Latin America.

    Note to Editors: InterContinental Hotels Group PLC of the United Kingdom (LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)) is the world's most global hotel company and the largest by number of rooms. InterContinental Hotels Group owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, more than 3,500 hotels and 536,000 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(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 manages the world's largest hotel loyalty program, Priority Club(R) Rewards, with more than 23 million members worldwide. In addition to this, InterContinental Hotels Group has a controlling interest in Britvic, the second largest soft drinks manufacturer in the UK.
    InterContinental Hotels Group offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at http://www.ichotelsgroup.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards program at http://www.priorityclub.com.
    For the latest news from InterContinental Hotels Group, visit our online Press Office at http://www.ihgplc.com/media.

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KEYWORD: FLORIDA BRAZIL INTERNATIONAL LATIN AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TRAVEL SOURCE: InterContinental Hotels Group

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