IHG Launches Priority Club(R) Rewards Co-Branded Credit Card with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank

IHG Launches Priority Club(R) Rewards Co-Branded Credit Card with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank

May 18, 2007

Program Members Can Earn Points on Purchases to Stay Free
at More Than 3,700 IHG Properties Worldwide, Including
Intercontinental(R) Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza(R)
Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn(R) Hotels & Resorts
And Holiday Inn Express(R)


    SHANGHAI, China, May 18 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- IHG
(InterContinental Hotels Group) and Shanghai Pudong
Development Bank Credit Card Center (SPDBCCC) announced
today they will launch the Priority Club Rewards co-branded
Visa credit card to consumers in China.  This deal brings
together the Priority Club Rewards programme, the first and
largest reward scheme in the hotel industry, and the
Shanghai Pudong Development Bank (SPDB) credit card,
created in partnership with Citibank, the world's leading
issuer of credit cards. 

    (Logo: http://www.xprn.com.cn/xprn/sa/200702131431.jpg
)
	
    "We are pleased to continue IHG's history of
innovation in China, which began 23 years ago with the
opening of Holiday Inn as one of the first international
hotel brands in China," said Patrick Imbardelli, chief
executive, IHG Asia Pacific.  "We were also the first
hotel company to launch a Chinese language website, and now
our legacy continues as the first global hotel company to
launch a co-branded credit card in the market."   

    The card's unique benefits are characteristic of the
Priority Club Rewards program's laser focus on providing
the most flexibility and the best value proposition to its
members.  The Classic and Gold Priority Club Rewards Visa
cards reward members will earn points on everyday spending
as well as double points on all spending in IHG hotels
worldwide and bonus points upon activation.  Members can
redeem Priority Club points not only for free stays in any
of IHG's 66 hotels in China and more than 3,700 hotels
worldwide, but also for airline rewards, store vouchers,
Crowne Plaza Golf Rewards, and a variety of spa services
throughout Asia-Pacific.  

    Mr. Kuan Tseng, CEO of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank
Credit Card Center commented: "We recognize the growing
needs of frequent travellers in China. We are delighted to
be the first bank in China to partner with IHG, one of the
world's leading hotel companies, to launch this co-branded
credit card. Through our partnership with IHG, the Priority
Club Rewards co-branded Visa credit card will give frequent
travellers the easiest and fastest way to earn free hotel
stays and a wide range of service options that complement
their lifestyle." 

    With over 33 million members globally, which includes
over 600,000 members in mainland China, Priority Club
Rewards, IHG's guest loyalty program, is the largest and
fastest-growing program in the industry.   In China, its
expansion has been fast-paced with a monthly average growth
of 15,000 members.  Hotel brands participating in Priority
Club Rewards include InterContinental Hotels & Resorts,
Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn
Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites
and Candlewood Suites.  

    Shanghai Pudong Development Bank is a Shanghai-based
national commercial bank with 366 branch offices around
China.  It was the first domestic bank to launch a dual
currency credit card in conjunction with a foreign bank
through its partnership with Citibank.  

    About Priority Club Rewards

    With more than 33 million members, Priority Club
Rewards is the first, largest and fastest-growing guest
loyalty program in the hotel industry.  Winner of the 19th
Annual Freddie Awards hotel loyalty Program of the Year for
the second consecutive year and named Best Hotel Rewards
Program in the World two years running by Global Traveler
magazine, Priority Club Rewards offers more sought-after
benefits and the greatest ease of use of any hotel loyalty
program.  In addition to flexible features like No Points
Expiration and No Blackout Dates, Priority Club Rewards
members have more options for points redemption than any
other hotel loyalty program, including redemption at more
than 574,000 lodging establishments worldwide -- even at
rivals' hotels -- through the industry-leading "Any
Hotel, Anywhere" reward.  In addition to hotel nights,
members can redeem their points for airline miles on more
than 40 partner airlines, for auto rentals, for gift
certificates and for hundreds of products available in the
Rewards Catalog.  And Priority Club Rewards is the only
hotel loyalty program to offer members a Personal Shopper
program that allows members to exchange points for items
not found in the Rewards Catalog. 

    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.

    About IHG

    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 558,000 guest rooms in
nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. The
Group owns a portfolio of well recognised 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 programme, Priority Club(R) Rewards. 

    InterContinental Hotels Group offers information and
online reservations for all its hotel brands at
http://www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club
Rewards programme at http://www.priorityclub.com . For the
latest news from InterContinental Hotels Group, visit our
online Press Office at http://www.ihg.com/media .

    About Shanghai Pudong Development Bank

    Shanghai Pudong Development Bank is a joint-stock
commercial bank established on October 19, 1992 upon
approval.  In 1999, it was listed on the Shanghai Stock
Exchange (code 600000).  Currently, the Bank has a
registered capital of RMB 4.355 billion.  It is a
much-watched and respected public company on China's stock
exchanges due to excellent performance and a reputation of
integrity.  Over more than 10 years, adhering to a
management principle of "integrity and
excellence", SPDB's banking business has been growing
rapidly and its operating strengths have been constantly
enhanced.  By September 30, 2006, total assets reached RMB
637.9 billion.  Loan balance in RMB and foreign currency
stood at RMB 442.8 billion.  Deposit balance was RMB 565.7
billion, and after-tax profit for 2006 reached RMB 3.35
billion.  The Bank has established 366 branch offices in
key cities in China, and a representative office in Hong
Kong. It now boasts a nationwide commercial banking service
network.

    SPDB has gradually developed into a good example in the
Chinese banking industry.  In June 2005, SPDB was awarded
the Bankers' Magazine Award for IT and Business
Consolidation for Asia Pacific region.  In November 2005,
SPDB was cited by Asia Weekly as one of the Top Chinese
Listed Companies for the 6th consecutive year.  In July
2005, SPDB was cited by the British Magazine Bankers as No.
251 among the Top 1000 World Banks on account of its Tier 1
capital.  In August 2005, SDPB was awarded by Shanghai
American Chamber of Commerce the First Prize for best
Corporate Social Responsibility Practice, the only local
company to win the award.

    About Citibank

    Citibank's history in China can be traced to May 15th
1902, when it set up its first office in Shanghai, China. 
Today, Citibank is a leading foreign bank in China,
offering the widest range of financial products to
customers.  Currently, Citibank has 6 companies and
investment banking branches in Beijing, Shanghai,
Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin and Chengdu.  In addition, it
has 16 retail banking outlets in Beijing, Shanghai,
Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin and Chengdu, and a
representative office in Xiamen.  Citigroup's global
network spans more than 100 countries and it is the most
international foreign bank in China.  For more information,
please visit http://www.citigroup.com /
http://www.citibank.com.cn .


    For more information, please contact:

     Sharona Tao
     IHG
     Tel:   [phone]
     Fax:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]