Intercontinental Continues Global Expansion
Nine New Hotels Scheduled to Open in Key Markets around the World
ATLANTA, GA, February 9, 2006. InterContinental Hotels Group continues to increase global distribution of its premium brand - InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. In the coming year, nine new InterContinental Hotels & Resorts are currently scheduled to open around the world in the United States, China, Europe and the Middle East.
Andrew Cosslett, Chief Executive of InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, commented: "The strength of the InterContinental brand represents a great draw for hotel owners and guests worldwide. The high levels of service and quality, coupled with a unique understanding of local cultures, create a fantastic position for InterContinental as an international hotel brand. We look forward to opening further InterContinental hotels around the world as we grow this iconic brand."
Included among these new openings in 2006 are three resorts located in Spain, Egypt and Panama, increasing the brand's total resort portfolio to 20. Additional highlights anticipated in 2006 include the first InterContinental hotel to open in the key gateway city of Boston; two new InterContinental hotels to open in Greater China - in Chongqing and Shenzhen - bringing the brand's total distribution to 7 hotels; and the 7th InterContinental hotel to open in Egypt. IHG continues to focus its growth efforts for the InterContinental brand geographically in the United States while also developing its resort portfolio around the world. Looking beyond into 2007, the company expects to continue a steady pace of new openings that include several resorts in the Asia Pacific region as well as the new landmark InterContinental Dubai Festival City that will incorporate a convention centre and private residences. InterContinental opened seven hotels in primary commercial destinations such as Beijing and D"usseldorf; and in distinctive resort destinations such as Abu Soma, Egypt, Berchtesgaden, Germany and Pafos, Cyprus.
Jenifer Zeigler, senior vice president, global brand management, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, commented: "Our goal is to ensure that InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is the brand of choice for experiential travellers and the evolving generation of hotel guests in markets around the world."
A current list of 2006 InterContinental hotel scheduled openings follows below*:
InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza, Missouri
SS Opened 12 January 2006; franchise hotel; AAA Four Diamond hotel consistently rated as Kansas City's best hotel.
InterContinental Harbor Court Baltimore, Maryland
SS Managed hotel January 2006; licensed hotel April 2006; joins sister hotel The Willard InterContinental along Washington/Baltimore corridor.
InterContinental Playa Bonita Resort & Spa, Panama
SS Anticipated opening late spring 2006; first resort and spa of its kind in Latin America located on the Panama Canal.
InterContinental Mar Menor Golf Resort, Spain
SS Anticipated opening June 2006; includes Jack Nicklaus Design championship golf course and ESPA wellness centre.
InterContinental Chongqing, China
SS Anticipated opening June 2006; marks the 6th InterContinental hotel in Greater China; Located in a 42-story twin tower mixed-use complex in the centre of the CBD and is a landmark building in the city.
InterContinental Taba Heights Resort, Egypt
SS Anticipated opening July 2006; marks the 7th InterContinental hotel in Egypt and the 6th InterContinental resort in the Middle East.
InterContinental Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
SS Anticipated opening July 2006; marks the 12th InterContinental hotel in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
InterContinental Belgrade, Serbia
SS November; originally opened as an InterContinental in 1979 until the Balkan War of the 1990's; due to be re-branded and open officially as an InterContinental Hotel during 2006 following renovation.
InterContinental Boston, Massachusetts
SS Anticipated opening October 2006; first InterContinental residential hotel development in the United States with 130 private residences.
InterContinental Shenzhen, China
SS Anticipated opening fourth quarter 2006; this 549-room new build hotel will be the first luxury hotel in Shenzhen located in the Nanshan district, near key attractions and the city's main exhibition centre.
*All projected openings during 2006 are estimated based on current timelines.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
