IHG Unveils Holiday Inn 'Key Card Hotel'
The first-ever hotel made of key cards in New York City, to mark the relaunch of 1,200 Holiday Inn h
NEW YORK, NY, September 17, 2009 - The $1 billion Holiday Inn relaunch is the largest in the history of the hospitality industry, with more than 3,300 hotels being updated - improving quality and driving consistency at Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels around the world. The global estate is expected to be relaunched by the end of 2010.
'The Holiday Inn brand relaunch continues to gain momentum with over 1,200 relaunched hotels anticipated globally through September. Our success with this initiative reinforces our leadership position in the branded hotel category and further demonstrates our ongoing commitment to improving quality and consistency at our over 3,300 properties around the world,' said Kevin Kowalski, senior vice president, Global Brand Management, Holiday Inn Brands. 'The Key Card Hotel is a fun and interactive way to showcase the changes happening at our hotels and is the only structure of its kind to ever be created by a hotel brand.'
The 400 sq. ft. 'Key Card Hotel,' built by world record-holding Cardstacker Bryan Berg, includes a guest bedroom, bathroom and lobby, all fully equipped with life-sized furniture made out of Holiday Inn key cards. The largest card structure Berg has ever built and the only one in the world of its kind, the Holiday Inn 'Key Card Hotel' will be open to the public from September 17 through September 21 at the South Street Seaport in downtown Manhattan.
During the five day event, Bryan Berg will build a freestanding 9-ft replica of New York's Empire State Building in the lobby of the 'Key Card Hotel,' using Holiday Inn branded playing cards.
Berg said, 'This is my largest cardstacking challenge to date and the only card creation I have ever made at full human scale, which is fitting since Holiday Inn is one of the largest and most successful brands in the hotel industry. I think it's a great way to celebrate relaunching 1,200 Holiday Inn hotels globally.'
Guests around the world can experience the changes happening at Holiday Inn by entering the "Key to Change" promotion online (http://www.holidayinn.com/Key) and claiming their "virtual key card" game piece between 14 September and 22 October 2009. Guests can enter for a chance to win free nights at a newly relaunched Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express and the grand prize winners who find the "master key" will win an all-expense paid trip to a Holiday Inn of their choice, anywhere in the world. Key Card game pieces will also be sent to all Holiday Inn Priority Club Rewards members and given to guests who stop by the "Key Card Hotel" during the five-day event.
To experience the exciting changes happening at Holiday Inn, view Bryan Berg building the Holiday Inn "Key Card Hotel" or to register for the "Key to Change" promotion, please visit www.holidayinn.com/Key
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