Intercontinental Porto-Palacio das Cardosas Opens in Portugal

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. July 14, 2011

July 13, 2011 - Officially open after a U.S. $43 million-dollar renovation, InterContinental Porto-Palacio das Cardosas is the first upscale hotel to open in Porto and the first InterContinental hotel in Portugal.

Located in the heart of Porto and within the boundaries of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, InterContinental Porto-Palacio das Cardosas is situated in the city's main square, an area brimming with historic cathedrals, markets, museums, celebrated local bars and restaurants. The hotel is housed within a refurbished 200-year-old palace, an iconic building owned by Solitaire Hotels and managed by the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). The property is a quick distance - 30 minutes by private car - from the international airport Francisco Sá Carneiro as well as the Ribeira, where travelers can enjoy a cruise up to the Spanish border and explore the wine-producing cellars for a scenic tasting. “Port” wine historically takes its name from Porto from which it was shipped.

Housing 105 guestrooms, including 16 suites, InterContinental Porto-Palacio das Cardosas also reintroduces the legendary restaurant Cafe Astoria, which used to be located on the ground floor of the palace in the early 20th century. There is also a fine-dining restaurant, SQUARE, serving Portuguese cuisine; as well as the Cardosas Bar, overlooking Liberdade Square.

Designed by Russian architect Alex Kravetz, the hotel is characterized by its high ceilings, elegance and contemporary luxury. Amenities include free WiFi throughout the property, a state-of-the-art fitness and wellness center, and more than 2,077 square feet of meeting space which can accommodate up to 100 people.

To celebrate the opening, from July 14th through the end of September 2011 InterContinental Porto-Palacio das Cardosas will feature a 20% discount off best available rates, late check-out, complimentary breakfast and WiFi.

The InterContinental Porto-Palacio das Cardosas will also be taking part in InterContinental's new and unique 'Insider Collection,' offering eco and wine excursions, personalized guided tours, helicopter trips, access to personal shopping services, and more.

“It is a privilege to open a hotel - InterContinental's first in Portugal - in a former palace. We are in the heart of Porto, which has so much to offer to both national and international travelers,” said Pilar Monzón, General Manager, InterContinental Porto-Palácio das Cardosas. “Our guests will have the opportunity to explore this wonderful city with assistance from our excellent Concierge team, which has the local expertise and knowledge to help them experience Porto as locals do.”

“We are thrilled to open the first international upscale hotel in Porto,” said Simon Scoot, Vice President, Global Brand Management, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. “The hotel's location in the historic center, coupled with its palatial past, is a great match for the prestige of the InterContinental brand. We hope that InterContinental Porto-Palacio das Cardosas will strengthen tourism not only to Porto, but also to the entire north of Portugal.”

For more information and to book, please call 1-800-770-5675 or visit www.intercontinental.com/porto.

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts are dedicated to providing luxury experiences that meet the needs of guests, including premier spa treatments, world-class cuisine, state-of-the-art business technology and modern hotel amenities. There are 171 InterContinental hotels around the world and 60 in development, which will open in the next two to three years.

About InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has 171 hotels, located in more than 60 countries with local insight that comes from over 60 years of experience. At InterContinental we believe that superior, understated service and outstanding facilities are important, but what makes us truly different, is the genuine interest we show in our guests. Our desire is to help guests make the most of their time. We connect our well-travelled guests to what's special about a destination, by sharing our knowledge so they enjoy authentic experiences that will enrich their lives and broaden their outlook. For more information, visit www.intercontinental.com.

About IHG
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global company operating seven well-known 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® . IHG also manages Priority Club® Rewards, the world's first and largest hotel loyalty program with 58 million members worldwide.

IHG is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms and IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns, through various subsidiaries, a portfolio of over 4,400 hotels and more than 652,000 guest rooms in 100 countries and territories around the world.

IHG has more than 1,200 hotels in its development pipeline and expects to recruit around 160,000 people 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 http://www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards program at www.priorityclub.com. For our latest news visit www.ihg.com/media, Twitter www.twitter.com/ihgplc or YouTube http://www.youtube.com/ihgplc