Crowne Plaza Times Square Honored with IHG Service Award

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. August 02, 2010

ATLANTA, GA - July 29, 2010 - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), the world's largest hotel company, is celebrating employees at their 4,400 hotels, offices and reservation centers around the world for excellent guest service as part of Celebrate Service Week. In New York City, the Crowne Plaza Times Square, won a Celebrate Service Award for the staff's hospitality to displaced guests of the neighboring Marriott Marquis during May's foiled bombing of Times Square.

'Celebrate Service Week' runs from July 26-30 and is an initiative launched by IHG in partnership with its Owners' Association, the IAHI, to recognize and honor the 330,000 people, from accountants and chefs to housekeepers and landscapers, who work tirelessly for their guests every day.

When the discovery of a bomb in a car parked in front of Times Square's Marriott Marquis necessitated the closing of the hotel, the staff of the Crowne Plaza Times Square mobilized to set-up the property's ballroom to accommodate displaced guests. In just 30 minutes, the ballroom became a welcoming refuge for more than 300 people, offering complimentary shelter and refreshments. Moreover the Marriott's refugee guests were treated to the genuine warmth and concern of the Crowne Plaza Times Square's team, tremendously reducing the unpleasant aspects of a harrowing experience. Dozens of people who enjoyed the hospitality of the Crowne Plaza Times Square expressed their gratitude to the media, on the Internet and through letters to the hotel.

“The staff of Crowne Plaza Times Square has shown tremendous service, exemplifying the type of experience we strive to deliver for our guests every day,” said Michael Silberstein, the hotel's general manager. “It's very important to let our employees know their work is valued and appreciated. It's what keeps our guests coming back again and again.”

As part of the festivities, 11 winners were selected in the Americas region for their exemplary example of service. These winners received a Celebrate Service Award and were presented with prizes ranging from tickets to a 2012 Olympic Games event in London, tickets to a 2010 Major League Baseball World Series game, tickets to the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, Priority Club Rewards Points, and an LG HDTV, among other items.

“Our employees are the heart of our business,” said Jim Abrahamson, president, The Americas, IHG. “They are doing a fantastic job of delivering our company purpose of Great Hotels Guests Love every day. The excellent service we are celebrating this week brings our brands to life and delivers a world-class guest experience.”

IHG employs over 330,000 people who work in the offices and hotels (including franchises) across the world. IHG will create 160,000 jobs in the next five years by opening 1,300 hotels in the development pipeline. In China, IHG expects to recruit 87,000 people within five years. Other key growth areas include the USA, UK, Middle East and Africa, China, Japan and the reservation centers.

To find out more about Celebrate Service Week, working in the hotel industry and the opportunities available at IHG, visit www.ihg.com/celebrateservice. For more information about the Crowne Plaza Times Square, please visit www.cpmanhattantimessquare.com -Ends-

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns, through various subsidiaries, over 4,400 hotels and more than 650,000 guest rooms in 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of well recognized and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites® and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards with 48 million members worldwide.

IHG has 1,300 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 160,000 jobs worldwide over the next few years.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards program at www.priorityclub.com. For the latest news from IHG, visit our online Press Office at www.ihg.com/media