MAY 9, 2008. IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], one of the world’s largest hotel groups by number of rooms, has unveiled an online "Innovation Hotel," which showcases some of the best ideas the hotel industry can use when implementing sustainability concepts in the design, development and operation of hotels. The purpose of IHG's Innovation Hotel is to gather feedback from travelers about "green" features that matter most to them. The Innovation Hotel is located on IHG's corporate website at www.ihgplc.com/innovation/.

''People who do their part for the environment when they're at home are likely to be interested in doing the same when they're staying in a hotel," said David Jerome, senior vice president, Corporate Responsibility, IHG. "'Responsible tourism is about growing in a way that makes sense for business while managing our impact on the environment and community. We want to know what ‘green’ features are important to guests before making them part of brand standards. This gives them a chance to weigh in with their ideas.”

Among the “green” features of the virtual hotel include:
• solar panels on the roof to heat water
• rainwater harvesting system to supply water to toilets
• roof garden rich in shrubbery to provide extra insulation
• windpower to generate electricity for the hotel
• recycled glass windows
• furniture and fittings made entirely from recycled materials
• household waste to provide heat and power

The website has already generated hundreds of responses from travelers and together with additional ideas and suggestions; the company will introduce a ‘second generation’ online innovation hotel in the coming months.

IHG is not planning to introduce its own green brand at this time. However, the company is focused on identifying its biggest impacts on the environment and on reducing those impacts across all areas of its existing business. IHG will look to roll out the most popular innovation hotel features across its entire branded estate in time.

''We have some excellent examples of responsible tourism already underway in our hotels," said Jerome. "Now we're looking at setting company-wide goals for our business to deliver real benefits to the environment, based on clear understanding of where we can make a difference and on guests' needs.''

With nearly 4,000 hotels worldwide, IHG is building a strategy for a long-term commitment that will deliver measurable benefits and not simply a quick-fix. To help further the company's understanding of environmental impact and solutions, IHG has developed partnerships with third-party organizations such as Harvard University, World Travel Tourism Council, FTSE4GOOD and the International Tourist Partnership.

As part of IHG's commitment to Corporate Responsibility (CR), in 2006, the company revised its CR strategy and created a senior management role within the business to take responsibility for this key area. In 2007, IHG focused heavily on research and developing its insights to generate a strategy to benefit the business and the environment. This year the company will take what it learned in 2007 and focus on group strategic alignment, targets, measures and innovation.

IHG was the first hotel chain to introduce a set of 'green' guidelines for hotels back in 1991, and was a founder of the International Hotels and Environment Initiative (IHEI).

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) of the United Kingdom [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)] is one of the world's largest hotel groups by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 3,980 hotels and more than 590,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. IHG owns a portfolio of well recognized 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 Indigo®, and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards with over 37 million members worldwide.

The company pioneered the travel industry’s first collaborative response to environmental issues as founder of the International Hotels and Environment Initiative (IHEI). The IHEI formed the foundations of the Tourism Partnership launched by the International Business Leaders Forum in 2004, of which IHG is still a member today. The environment and local communities remain at the heart of IHG’s global corporate responsibility focus.