InterContinental in Management Agreement with Maruma Internacional, Maracaibo

The Crowne Plaza Maruma Maracaibo Casino & Convention Center Will Be the First Crowne Plaza in Venez

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. October 14, 2008

MIAMI, FL, July 20, 2006. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) (NYSE:IHG), the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, today signed a letter of agreement with Hotel Maruma, C.A., to manage the Crowne Plaza Maruma Maracaibo Casino & Convention Center. The 380-room hotel is located in the city of Maracaibo, the second largest city in Venezuela with a population of 2.5 million people and the center of the oil and petroleum industry.

Formerly known as the Hotel Maruma Internacional, the Crowne Plaza Maruma Maracaibo will be the first Crowne Plaza in Venezuela and another exciting addition to the already widespread IHG portfolio in Latin America. The property sits on ten acres of gardens, amidst the surrounding residential and commercial areas. It is ideally situated near the main business and shopping districts and is the closest hotel in the city to La Chinita International Airport.

Additionally, the Crowne Plaza Maruma Maracaibo is located next to the largest convention center in Venezuela called the Palacio de Eventos (Palace of Events). The six-story center offers a range of multi-purpose rooms for every type of event, such as corporate and social functions. There are 15 multi-purpose rooms with a capacity to hold 6,500 people, and amenities including audiovisual rental, taxi services, catering and an on-site florist.

"We are delighted to continue our expansion of the Crowne Plaza portfolio in Latin America," says Alvaro Diago, Area President, InterContinental Hotels Group, Latin America. "We're more than ready to have a Crowne Plaza here as IHG has been present in this country for over 50 years. Venezuela is a country in which we have always believed in, and we will continue to believe in the growth potential of its hospitality and tourism industry," adds Alvaro Diago.

The hotel's official conversion to a Crowne Plaza is scheduled for completion by late 2006, and will be consistent with the Crowne Plaza brand amenities such as "The Place to Meet" program, which offers comprehensive meeting packages to ensure a seamless planning process; hence, an exceptional meeting experience. The program consists of three key components: a Two-Hour Response Guarantee, Crowne Meetings Director and a Meetings Daily Debrief. With meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 800 people in addition to the Palacio de Eventos Convention Center, the hotel provides the perfect venue for business meetings and social functions.

Guestroom amenities include: high-speed Internet access, dual-line data port phones with voicemail, coffee maker, hair dryer, mini bar, cable TV, refrigerator, iron and ironing board. In addition, the hotel will feature three restaurants, a lobby bar and pool bar and 24-hour room service. The Crowne Plaza Maruma Maracaibo will also feature Crowne Club floors, an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, a sauna and a Casino.

"We are thrilled to become a Crowne Plaza Hotel, as the brand is known globally for its quality and excellent service, as well as its great programs and standards," says Mr. Giuseppe De Pinto, President, Hotel Maruma, C.A.

"This is a very important agreement for us as it is a wonderful addition to our IHG portfolio. Hotel Maruma C.A. is an exceptional owner, and I look forward to a fruitful future doing business with them. As well, we know this property will have great success because it fits perfectly within the profile of the Crowne Plaza brand and its hotels, which are renowned around the world as the ideal place for meetings, conferences and conventions," concludes Alvaro Diago.

As part of the InterContinental Hotels Group global portfolio, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts has 243 hotels in 48 countries, and are located in major urban centers, gateway cities and resort destinations.