June 24, 2005

InterContinental Hotels Group Announces the Opening of its 79th Staybridge Suites Hotel

Mississippi welcomes its first Staybridge Suites

InterContinental Hotels Group announced today that Staybridge Suites has opened the doors of its 79th property, a 92-room all-suite hotel in Jackson-Ridgeland, Miss. (USA) With the addition of the Staybridge Suites Jackson, the InterContinental Hotels Group portfolio in Mississippi has grown to three brands represented in the full service, limited service and upscale extended-stay segments with 28 hotels and more than 2,600 rooms.
"We are delighted to announce the opening of Mississippi’s first Staybridge Suites hotel," said Robert Radomski, vice president, brand management, Staybridge Suites. “With the addition of the Jackson development to the existing portfolio of Staybridge Suites hotels and the 60 in development, the brand continues to move forward on a path of accelerated growth," added Radomski.

Guests at the new $8 million Staybridge Suites hotel can choose from three suite options (deluxe studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom/two-bath). All suites feature fully equipped kitchens, functional, well-lit work stations with ergonomic seating, two-line speaker phone with voicemail and direct dial access. High-speed internet access is also available at no charge.

The new 63,000 sq.-ft. hotel offers several unique amenities such as complimentary guest laundry and workout facilities, complimentary shuttle service, outdoor pool, free parking, deluxe complimentary daily breakfast buffet which features a rotating selection of hot items, a 24-hour convenience store and a 24-hour business services center. In addition, guests will enjoy gathering in the hotel’s Great Room for evening "Sundowner” receptions three days a week for refreshments, light appetizers and conversation.

The Staybridge Suites Jackson is conveniently located just off I-55. Several key businesses are close by, such as Nissan, University Medical Center, McAlisters, Bell South, St. Dominic Hospital and Baptist Hospital. The new hotel is just minutes from key area attractions including the State Capitol, Mississippi Coliseum and Fairgrounds, Jackson Zoo, Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and North Park Mall.

“Staybridge Suites is an excellent extended-stay product,” said Brad Dew, general manager. “Our guests will be very pleased with the quality of service and accommodations the hotel has to offer.”

The Staybridge Suites Jackson is owned by Little Properties, Inc., and managed by InterContinental Hotels Group under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group and is located at 108 Ridgewood Rd., Ridgeland, Miss., 39157. Telephone: 601-206-9190; Facsimile: 601-206-9180.

About Staybridge Suites Hotels

Staybridge Suites® is an innovative all-suite hotel brand meeting the needs of the extended-stay guest. It is ideal for travelers seeking a residential-style hotel that is perfect for business, relocation, and vacations. The amenities include three suite types with fully equipped kitchens, complimentary daily breakfast buffet and evening reception three days a week, and 24-hour business services with high-speed Internet access.

Staybridge Suites entered the extended-stay market in December 1998 when its flagship location in Alpharetta, Ga., opened. Since that opening the Staybridge Suites brand continues to grow rapidly, recently becoming the "Fastest to Fifty." Staybridge Suites achieved its 50th hotel opening faster than any other brand in the up-market extended stay segment.
Staybridge Suites was ranked Top Extended-Stay hotel in the Extended Stay segment in the 2003 and 2004 in the Market Metrix Hospitality Index (MMHI), based on 35,000 customer interviews, the largest and most in-depth measure of hotel, airline and car rental performance available today. This winning customer satisfaction score ranks first among all brands throughout the hotel industry.
Currently, there are 79 Staybridge Suites hotels open and 60 under development.
Staybridge Suites participates in Priority Club Rewards, the world's first and most global hotel loyalty program spanning more than 3,500 hotels in nearly 100 countries. Members earn their choice of points toward free hotel nights or merchandise, or earn frequent flyer miles with more than 40 domestic and international airline partners. Enrollment in Priority Club Rewards is free. Guests enroll online at www.priorityclub.com, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or at the front desk of any Staybridge Suites hotel. Priority Club Rewards is the world’s largest hotel loyalty program with more than 25 million members.
Contact:
Natasha Gullett, Staybridge Suites, Natasha.Gullett@ichotelsgroup.com, 770-604-5597
Note to Editors:
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC of the United Kingdom [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. InterContinental Hotels Group owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, more than 3,500 hotels and 535,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites® and Hotel IndigoTM, and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club® Rewards, with over 25 million members worldwide. In addition to this, InterContinental Hotels Group has a 47.5% interest in Britvic, one of the two leading manufacturers of soft drinks, by value and volume, in Great Britain.

InterContinental Hotels Group offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at www.ichotelsgroup.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards programme at www.priorityclub.com.

Posted by Editors at 06:42 AM

June 21, 2005

The New Hilton Serenity Bath Collection Will Infuse a Spa Experience into Every Hilton Guestroom

Luxurious New Collection to Feature Crabtree & Evelyn's La Source Bath Amenities

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--Hilton Hotels & Resorts announced that it will begin infusing a touch of the spa experience into every one of its guestrooms by introducing the new Hilton Serenity Bath(TM) Collection, which features Crabtree & Evelyn's La Source(R) bath amenities and elegant, custom-designed hammered stainless steel accessories.

"When we began looking at options for this new bath collection, we asked ourselves, 'Why shouldn't our guests have a delightful sensory experience every time they use the bath products in our guestrooms?'" said Jeff Diskin, senior vice president, Hilton brand management. "The answer, of course, is that by making these high-end, spa-quality bath amenities standard across all of our hotels, we can help our guests achieve rejuvenation and serenity each and every time they stay at a Hilton hotel."

The new bath products from Crabtree & Evelyn's La Source collection include shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion, mouthwash, shower cap, sewing kit, vanity kit, aqua brush with pumice, shoe mitt and shoe horn. The Crabtree & Evelyn La Source line was created to provide an in-home spa experience, and select products have beneficial aloe vera and marine extracts. The new products relax with a soothing medley of green and herbal notes and revitalize with accords of peppermint.

The custom-designed brushed and hammered stainless steel accessories will include an amenity tray, soap dish, tissue box cover, trash can, ice bucket, ice bucket tray, memo pad and pen holder.

The three-step launch of the new collection starts with the immediate phase-in of the Crabtree & Evelyn La Source products packaged in temporary bottle design, followed by the stainless steel accessories later this summer, and then full roll-out of the collection, complete with new elegant custom-designed flip-top bottles in the fall.

Hilton Hotels Corporation is recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages or franchises approximately 2,300 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership properties. Its portfolio includes many of the world's best known and most highly regarded hotel brands, including Hilton(R), Conrad(R), Doubletree(R), Embassy Suites Hotels(R), Hampton Inn(R), Hampton Inn & Suites(R), Hilton Garden Inn(R), Hilton Grand Vacations Club(R) and Homewood Suites by Hilton(R).

Posted by Editors at 04:17 AM