InterContinental Hotels Group Introduces a New Level of Luxury to China

InterContinental Hotels Group Introduces a New Level of Luxury to China

October 26, 2006

    SHANGHAI, China, Oct. 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
InterContinental Hotels  Group, the world's largest hotel
group by number of rooms, is bringing more than a touch of
luxury to China, with the upcoming opening of no less than
seven InterContinental Hotels & Resorts across the
country.  New InterContinental properties in Chengdu,
Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, Ningbo Qingdao, Sanya, Nanjing and
Shenzhen promise to change the face of luxury across
China.

    The story begins with the launch of the heralded
InterContinental Shenzhen, which brings the flagship
InterContinental brand to the growing marketplace of
Shenzhen.  

    "Where once a "first of its kind",
full-service hotel stood, a newer, more spectacular
InterContinental Shenzhen stands proud," said Edmond
Ip, chief operating officer, North Asia, InterContinental
Hotels Group, "We are thrilled to open the
InterContinental Shenzhen on such a historic site.  This is
a hotel which upholds our standards of excellence with a
unique theme in a unique location."

    The newly built hotel will open in late December 2006,
marking the InterContinental Hotels Group seventh
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand property to
open in Greater China.  The 549-room InterContinental
Shenzhen will be the country's first luxury city-resort,
with a classical Spanish theme, complete with a life-sized
reproduction of a Spanish galleon overlooking the
entranceway.  These attributes will make it a destination
of choice for everyone from business conference planners to
honeymooners.  

    To serve the wedding market, the InterContinental
Shenzhen presents the first full service wedding boutique
complete with gown selections, florists, and an in-hotel
chapel-styled service. 

    Other upcoming InterContinental Hotels and Resorts
openings include:

    InterContinental Century City Chengdu

    Positioned as Chengdu's foremost upscale business
hotel, the InterContinental Century City Chengdu will
combine the latest in communication and business
technologies, high-end food and beverage options and
conference facilities with the silky service which has made
InterContinental hotels famous.  Newly built as a part of
the Century City conference and shopping centre, the hotel
is part of the award-winning six hotel deal signed earlier
this year.  It is scheduled to open in 2007.

    InterContinental Resort Jiuzhai Paradise

    Located in glorious Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, the
InterContinental Resort Jiuzhai Paradise promises to be the
destination of choice for conferences and leisure.  It is
scheduled to open in 2007.

    InterContinental Lake View Ningbo

    The 500-room InterContinental Lake View Ningbo is
located in the centre of the Ningbo Hi-Tec Park, two
minutes from the Ningbo Convention & Exhibition Centre
and seven minutes from the centre of the city.  It features
five food and beverage outlets, superb conference
facilities, swimming pool and health club.  It is scheduled
to open in the third quarter of 2007.	

    InterContinental Qingdao

    The newly built, 438-room InterContinental Qingdao will
deliver a new level of luxury to Qingdao, one of China's top
ten economic and tourist destinations and host to the
sailing events in the 2008 Olympics.  Scheduled to open
well ahead of the 2008 Olympics, the InterContinental
Qingdao features five food & beverage outlets and
meeting facilities that can accommodate up to 2,000.  The
hotel's other amenities include a spa, health club,
swimming pool, executive lounge, and business centre.  It
is scheduled to open in 2008.

    InterContinental Sanya Resort

    The 600-room luxury resort will bring the distinctive
InterContinental hotels' touch of luxury to China's
favourite resort destination.  With six food and beverage
outlets, extensive conference facilities, and a selection
of pampering options including health club, swimming pool
and spa, the InterContinental Sanya Resort promises to be
the jewel of Sanya.  It is scheduled to open in 2008.

    InterContinental Nanjing

    This 450-room luxury hotel located within the proposed
Nanjing International Financial Center will be the world's
tallest hotel.  From its perch atop Nanjing's bustling
downtown, the InterContinental Nanjing will offer top-notch
conference and business facilities, three food and beverage
outlets, spa and pool.  It is scheduled to open in 2010.

    (Photo: 
http://211.154.41.99:9080/xprn/back/upload/story_attchment/20061025171531-87.jpg
)

    "These upcoming InterContinental Hotels and
Resorts openings are more than just an achievement for the
InterContinental Hotels Group," added Edmond. 
"They are a testament to the rising popularity of the
InterContinental Hotel & Resorts brand, and they
promise to change the face of the luxury hospitality market
across China.  We are very proud of this portfolio, and all
our new properties."

    InterContinental Hotels Group's award winning
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand is a truly
global, luxury brand that is located in major cities and
key resort destinations in more than 60 countries around
the world. Offering high levels of comfort and excellent
service, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is a symbol
of prestige, sophistication and success.  It delivers
comprehensive services specifically designed for the
international business traveller, as well as a blend of
luxury and local flavour that enhances leisure stays as
well.  Currently, InterContinental Hotels Group has 28
InterContinental hotels in Asia Pacific, including six in
Greater China, namely InterContinental Hong Kong,
InterContinental Grand Stanford, InterContinental Pudong
Shanghai, InterContinental Shenyang, InterContinental
Financial Street Beijing and the recently opened
InterContinental Chongqing. 

    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 3,600 hotels and 537,500 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. 

    Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region for
InterContinental Hotels Group worldwide. The Group's
portfolio in this region includes more than 160 hotels and
over 45,000 guest rooms under the InterContinental(R)
Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza(R) Hotels & Resorts,
Holiday Inn(R) Hotels and Resorts, and Express by Holiday
Inn(R) brands.

    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 programme at
http://www.priorityclub.com .

    For the latest news from InterContinental Hotels Group,
visit our online Press Office at http://www.ihgplc.com/media
.

    For more press information and photos, please contact:

     Sharona Tao
     Brand Public Relations & Communications Manager,
Greater China
     InterContinental Hotels Group
     Tel:   [phone]
     Fax:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

SOURCE  InterContinental Hotels Group