InterContinental Hotels Group announces the launch of its Holiday Inn Express® brand in Russia, the CIS and Georgia

Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, 2014-10-24 — /Travel PR News/ — InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world’s leading hotel companies today announces the launch of its Holiday Inn Express® brand in Russia, the CIS and Georgia. In cooperation with Regional Hotel Chain (RHC), Russia’s rapidly growing hotel property developer, IHG is pleased to introduce Holiday Inn Express® Voronezh – Kirova which marks the debut of the brand in the region and will open its doors in just a few weeks’ time.

The opening comes only months after IHG brought its Hotel Indigo®brand to Russia for the first time, with the opening of Hotel Indigo® St Petersburg – Tchaikovskogo.

Designed to be the right choice for value-conscious business and leisure travellers, Holiday Inn Express is part of IHG’s Holiday Inn brand family.  The brand’s proposition of Simple. Smart. Spot on., offers guests everything they need and nothing they don’t. Wi-Fi and a Holiday Inn Express Start™ breakfast are included in the room price at every Holiday Inn Express hotel in Europe.

Regional Hotel Chain (RHC), a portfolio company of VIY Management (VIYM) and IHG signed a franchise multiple development agreement (MDA) in 2013 to develop a number of Holiday Inn Express hotels by 2019. The MDA agreement is a significant step towards IHG’s ambition to be market leaders in Russia, the CIS and Georgia with 100 hotels open or in the development pipeline by 2020.

Robert Shepherd, Chief Development Officer, Europe, IHG said:“Russia, the CIS and Georgia is a priority market for us and we want to be number one there. In line with our strategy we are expanding our portfolio of brands in the region and in March this year we brought our upscale boutique brand Hotel Indigo to Russia.  We have also identified a gap in the market for quality, affordable mid-market accommodation and our Holiday Inn Express brand meets the needs of our owners and our guests perfectly.  We’re delighted to be partnering with VIY Management and its hotel business RHC – a proven and highly respected hotel developer and operator in Russia.”

The 145 – room Holiday Inn Express Voronezh – Kirova is located in the heart of Voronezh city centre at Kirova Street 9/1, Voronezh, and is within walking distance of the main sights: Voronezh State Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Local Museum, Annunciation Cathedral and Koltsov Square with its musical fountain. With a population of around one million, Voronezh is a thriving regional centre strategically located on the main rail network and on the M4 highway between Moscow and Rostov-on-Don.  The hotel is just 20 km from Voronezh International Airport and 4 km from Voronezh-1 Central Train Station.

The hotel offers guests a comfortable, yet affordable stay. All rooms are the same size however guests can choose between a family room with a sofa, a king size double or a twin room.  Guests have the option of two pillow choices – soft or firm.  Each room has a workspace with a desk and chair, flat-screen TV, safe, bathroom with shower, large mirror, hairdryer and toiletries. The complimentary Express Start™ breakfast bar features a full range of breakfast items, including regional and local dishes.

Michael Johnston, CEO of Regional Hotel Chain LLC, said: “We’re thrilled to be opening our first Holiday Inn Express hotel under our MDA with IHG and also our first modular constructed hotel.  Our agreement with IHG is of strategic importance to us, providing us with an excellent platform for further growth as we continue to develop hotels throughout Russia.”

Dmitry Schuetzle, Managing Director of VIY Management, added:  “Some question whether now is the right time to be investing in Russia. At VIYM, we are pleased that the world-renowned hotel group IHG shares our view on the attractive long-term investment potential in Russia’s fast-growing hotel market.  Today we launch the Holiday Inn Express brand in Voronezh, while the headroom for further growth for us across Russia remains substantial.”

Launched in 1991, the Holiday Inn Express brand opens hotels at a rate of two per week on average across the world and is part of the Holiday Inn portfolio of brands, which is the largest global hotel brand, with the largest global pipeline. There are currently 220 Holiday Inn Express hotels open in Europe and 41 in the development pipeline*.

IHG’s broader family of nine brands in nearly 100 countries meets the needs of guests, whatever the occasion – whether an overnight getaway, a business trip, a family celebration or a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  All IHG hotels participate in IHG’s guest loyalty programme, IHG® Rewards Club which is the industry’s first and largest guest loyalty programme with over 82 million members.  It is free to join atwww.IHGRewardsClub.com.

For more information and bookings please visit:http://www.ihg.com/hotels/ru/ru/global/offers/hotel/voronezh-kirova

* Figures as at 30th September 2014

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Media enquiries:

IHG

For Russian media enquiries: Please contact Arina Khodyreva on +7 495 775 0077 or on Arina.Khodyreva@hkstrategies.com

For UK/European media enquiries: Please contact Laura Baker on +44 1895512820 or on laura.baker@ihg.com

Notes to Editors:

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of nine hotel brands, including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites®, EVEN™ Hotels and HUALUXE® Hotels and Resorts.

IHG manages IHG® Rewards Club, the world’s first and largest hotel loyalty programme with over 82 million members worldwide. The programme was relaunched in July 2013, offering enhanced benefits for members including free internet across all hotels, globally.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,700 hotels and 697,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries, with almost 1,200 hotels in its development pipeline.

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

isit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.ihgrewardsclub.com for more on IHG Rewards Club. For our latest news, visit: www.ihg.com/media,www.twitter.com/ihg, www.facebook.com/ihg or www.youtube.com/ihgplc.

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