New food and beverage and design rolling out appeal to both guests and owners
ATLANTA and LAS VEGAS (June 21, 2017) — This week, at its 2017 Americas Conference in Las Vegas, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world’s leading global hotel companies, shared exciting brand updates with the owners of its mainstream and extended stay brands. As IHG continues to build preferred brands, these new solutions are created with both guest satisfaction and owner returns in mind.
Holiday Inn Express®
Holiday Inn Express®, the world’s largest hotel brand in its segment, announced the new and improved Express Start® breakfast bar. The updated space includes improvements across product, service and design to create a better experience for guests and increased ROI for owners. Central to this solution is the introduction of the new RATIONAL SelfCookingCenter® combination oven which allows the brand to serve fresh egg and meat products each morning. Holiday Inn Express is the first midscale hotel brand to use this innovative oven. Additionally, the brand is partnering with Cinnabon® to offer an exclusive recipe as one of the signature items on the complimentary Express Start breakfast bar for all U.S. hotels.
Jennifer Gribble, Vice President, Holiday Inn Express®, The Americas, IHG, said: “After a great night’s sleep, travelers start their stay with a great breakfast at our hotels. We are always striving to make the Express Start breakfast experience even better for both our guests and our owners. The introduction of the new RATIONAL oven allows us to do just that. We can now prepare and serve our guests fresh, high quality breakfast foods including fresh eggs, freshly cooked bacon and sausage and egg white omelets every day.”
The new Express Start breakfast bar, featuring updated signage and design elements, will begin rolling out to new hotels in the U.S. and Canada this summer and existing hotels in Q1 2018.
Holiday Inn®
The Holiday Inn® brand continues to deliver strong enhancements to the guest experience across both F&B and design.
The brand is now offering a portfolio of flexible restaurant and bar options that address different markets, varied levels of owner and operator experience, and more types of food and beverage options that guests desire when traveling.
Holiday Inn is introducing a third new restaurant concept. This concept builds on the successful momentum of CASH, the brand’s F&B operating model, the rollout of the full-service Burger Theory restaurant (now in more than a dozen hotels), and the launch of a new pilot called #52 Sports Bar and Kitchen. The new concept capitalizes on the growing trend in fast-casual service and features counter ordering, digital menus and food delivered to guests at their table. Currently in pilot phase, the new concept is seeing positive reviews from guests for the quality of service and food.
The Holiday Inn brand also continues to lead with design. The H4 room design launched as a brand standard in January 2017 for new builds and renovations and has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the most innovative hotel room designs. There are currently more than 20 hotels open or under renovation with the new H4 room, and more than 100 hotels are scheduled to open by the end of 2018. The Holiday Inn brand announced this week that the H4 design is now being expanded into the hotels’ public spaces to create a more welcoming and open lobby perfect for social gatherings.
For a 360-degree view of the H4 room design and renderings of the public space and fast-casual concept, visit holidayinn.com/design.
Eric Lent, Vice President, Full Service Hotels & Food and Beverage Solutions, The Americas, IHG, said: “The Holiday Inn brand has defined true hospitality for 65 years, and we are proud that the brand continues to evolve and transform. We know that design and F&B are the top two drivers of guest satisfaction in our hotels, and we are building on the success of our pilot programs to deliver enhancements that give our guests more options and drive a higher ROI for owners.”
Staybridge Suites®
Staybridge Suites® unveiled a light touch design update for all guest rooms and public space with updated finishes, fabrics, flooring, furnishings, soft goods, fixtures and color schemes intended to fit within existing layouts and furniture. With a style appealing to the ever-changing tastes of today’s travelers, the refreshed design and furnishings offer two new color palettes meant to create a more welcoming ambiance. Both are inspired by nature and natural elements; each has a pop of color in either teal or red. This design update will start rolling out to hotels this month and continue into 2018. View renderings of the new design scheme here. The brand also announced plans for a more comprehensive update to the interior design solutions over the next 18 months.
Heather Balsley, Senior Vice President, Americas Brands and Marketing, The Americas, IHG, said: “When staying at an extended stay hotel, we know our guests are looking for a comfortable and inviting environment where they can feel unconfined. As travel trends and design preferences continue to change, it’s important to evolve the Staybridge Suites experience in ways that appeal to our guests. This new design scheme offers a more up-to-date, relevant appearance to attract both guests and owners.”
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About the Holiday Inn® Brand
The Holiday Inn® brand, which offers nearly 1,250 hotels and resorts worldwide, has helped millions of travelers discover the joy of travel since its inception in 1952. Designed to meet the needs of both business and leisure travelers, Holiday Inn hotels deliver memorable experiences through warm and welcoming service, contemporary design that blends the familiar with the new, and a sense of comfort unique to the brand and its iconic green sign. At Holiday Inn hotels, guests can find amenities to help them work and play, including full-service restaurants where Kids Eat Free, meeting and business facilities, bright swimming pools and comfortable lounges all designed to help guests relax and refresh, making travel more enjoyable for all. For more information about the Holiday Inn brand, visit www.holidayinn.com or call 1-888-HOLIDAY. Find us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/holidayinn or Facebook www.Facebook.com/holidayinnhotels.
About the Holiday Inn Express® Brand
Holiday Inn Express® hotels are modern hotels for value-oriented travelers. Fresh, clean and uncomplicated, Holiday Inn Express hotels offer competitive rates for both business and leisure travelers. Guests Stay Smart® at Holiday Inn Express hotels where they enjoy a free hot Express Start™ breakfast bar with new healthier offerings, free high-speed Internet access and free local phone calls (U.S. and Canada only). There are currently 2,507 Holiday Inn Express hotel locations around the globe. For more information about Holiday Inn Express hotels or to book reservations, visit www.holidayinnexpress.com. Find us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/hiexpress or Facebook www.Facebook.com/holidayinnexpress.
About Staybridge Suites® Hotels
Staybridge Suites® is an innovative, all-suite hotel brand designed to meet the needs of extended stay guests seeking a warm sense of community in a home-like environment that is perfect for business, relocation and vacations. The Staybridge Suites brand continues to grow rapidly with 238 hotels open across the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. For more information about the Staybridge Suites brand visit www.StaybridgeSuites.com. Find Staybridge Suites hotels on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Staybridge or Facebook www.Facebook.com/StaybridgeSuites.
