Holiday Inn Express in Charlotte, North Carolina Metro Area to Open with Brand’s New Sign

ATLANTA, GA – January 19, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms, announced the recent opening of the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Matthews.  This is the first relaunched, newly constructed Holiday Inn Express to open in the Charlotte, North Carolina metro region. 

“Holiday Inn Express hotels are designed to be the smart choice for value-conscious business and leisure travelers,” said Gina LaBarre, vice president, Brand Delivery, The Americas, IHG.  “With more than 2,000 properties worldwide and nearly 600 properties in the pipeline, the Holiday Inn Express portfolio continues to expand in markets like Charlotte, providing our guests with an enhanced stay experience at a great value.  We welcome this hotel into the Holiday Inn family with the brand new sign and everything it represents.”

The Holiday Inn Express Matthews will be one of the first Holiday Inn Express hotels open in the Charlotte metro area with the brand’s new sign, which is the seal of approval that they exemplify the standards of the $1 billion Holiday Inn brand relaunch program. First announced in 2007, the Holiday Inn global brand relaunch was established to create a more contemporary brand image- improving quality and driving consistency across the global portfolio. The global estate of more than 3,300 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties are expected to be relaunched by the end of 2010, and more than 1,600 hotels have been relaunched to date.

The relaunch focuses on the things research shows matter most to guests – a modern, contemporary hotel with efficient, friendly service and a great night’s sleep.  Relaunched hotels such as the Holiday Inn Express Matthews feature:

• Upgraded and decluttered lobby areas
• A Holiday Inn Express signature scent and sound
• New exterior lighting
• New signage with the redesigned logo
• All Holiday Inn employees also go through an extensive “Stay Real” training program to ensure guests receive the level of service they expect.

The 69-room hotel is located at 9420 East Independence Boulevard and just minutes from the CPCC Levine Campus, and the corporate offices of Family Dollar, Harris Teeter and Hendrick.  The hotel also provides immediate access to a number of Charlotte attractions including the Carolina Courts, Extreme Ice Center and the future state-of-the-art Sportsplex. 

Guests at the Holiday Inn Express will 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 newly enhanced complimentary Express Start® breakfast bar will feature a rotation of various breakfast items including eggs, breakfast sausage and bacon, biscuits, yogurts, fruit and the brand’s proprietary cinnamon roll and Smart Roast® coffee.  The hotel features special in-room amenities such as free high-speed Internet access, microwave and 32″ flat panel HDTV’s.  Additionally, there is wireless Internet access throughout the hotel, a business center, an indoor pool and a fitness center. The SimplySmart^TM shower incorporates a proprietary Stay Smart^TM Kohler showerhead, signature shower curtain with curved rod, upgraded 100 percent cotton terry towels and a custom line of cinnamon-scented bath products.  Guests will also enjoy the SimplySmart^TM 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.

“We are proud the new Holiday Inn Express Matthews can showcase the brand’s new sign which represents changes that ensure our guests will experience fantastic service, with a fresh look, and brand new amenities throughout the hotel,” said Alkesh Patel, owner, OHM Hotels, LLC. 

Holiday Inn Express hotels participate in IHG’s guest loyalty program, Priority Club^® Rewards. The industry’s first and largest guest loyalty program has 47 million members.  Priority Club Rewards membership is free and guests can enroll by logging on www.priorityclub.com, calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of this hotel or any of IHG’s nearly 4,400 hotels worldwide.

The Holiday Inn Express and Suites Matthews is owned by OHM Hotels, LLC and managed by OHM Hotels Management Company under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.  The project was financed by BB&T and general contractor was OMEGA Construction.  Architectural services were provided by Godwin Associates.

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 http://www.hiexpress.com/.

Media Contacts:
Emily Brinkley, Holiday Inn Express, emily.brinkley (at) ihg (dot) com, +1(770) 604-2037
Sarah-Ann Soffer, Holiday Inn Express, sarahann.soffer (at) ihg (dot) com, +1(770) 604-2707