IHG to relaunch Holiday Inn brand worldwide

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced a worldwide relaunch of the Holiday Inn brand, comprising Holiday Inn, Express by Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express. According to the company, all Holiday Inn hotels open or under development are expected to have implemented the relaunch programme by the end of 2010, with the first due to open in spring 2008 in the US. The programme will include new brand signage, a redesigned welcome experience, as well as signature bedding and bathroom products.

IHG expects the relaunch programme to allow Holiday Inn hotels to generate significantly higher revenue per available room (RevPAR), and generate an enhanced return on investment for their owners. Owners and franchisees will invest up to $1 bn over a three year period in total to carry out the brand relaunch to meet the required service and quality levels.

IHG will make a non recurring revenue investment of up to £30 mln (EUR 43 mln) to accelerate implementation of the relaunch.

Making the announcement at IHG's annual Americas conference in Dallas, CEO Andrew Cosslett, said: 'This is an important moment in Holiday Inn's history. The brand is the largest and one of the most successful in the hotel industry and its relaunch will ensure that this position is maintained. The changes we are making will ensure the Holiday Inn brand goes forward into the future with a strong and confident new image. We want our guests to get as much enjoyment from Holiday Inn hotels over the next 50 years as they have over the last 50.'

Holiday Inn has over 400,000 rooms (3,125 hotels) and a development pipeline of more than 110,000 rooms (942 hotels). Over 16,000 rooms have been signed in the third quarter of 2007, a 6% increase on Q3 2006. IHG is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. The company owns, manages, leases or franchises over 3,800 hotels and more than 563,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world.