InterContinental Opens Crowne Plaza Maruma Maracaibo

The 380-Room Hotel is Another Exciting Addition to the Already Widespread IHG Portfolio in Latin Ame

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. October 14, 2008

MARACAIBO, Venezuela, November 22, 2006. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) (LSE:IHG) (NYSE:IHG) (ADRs), the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, today announced the opening of the Crowne Plaza Maruma Maracaibo Casino and Convention Center located in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Maracaibo is the second largest city in Venezuela with a population of 2.5 million people and is the heart of the oil and petroleum industry.

The 380-room hotel, formerly known as the Hotel Maruma Internacional, will be managed by Hotel Maruma C.A. It is the first Crowne Plaza in Venezuela and another exciting addition to the already widespread IHG portfolio in Latin America. The property sits on ten acres of gardens, amidst the surrounding residential and commercial areas. It is ideally located near the main business and shopping districts and is the closest hotel in the city to La Chinita International Airport.

The Crowne Plaza Maruma Maracaibo is also adjacent to the largest convention center in Venezuela called the Palacio de Eventos (Palace of Events). The six-story center offers a range of multi-purpose rooms for every type of event, such as corporate and social functions. Additionally, there are 15 multi-purpose rooms with a capacity of 6,500 people, and amenities including audiovisual rental, beauty salon, taxi services, catering and an on-site florist.

'IHG has had a presence in Venezuela for over 50 years, so with the expansion of our IHG brands in Maracaibo, we are reinforcing our presence in the region and that is truly exciting for us,' says Alvaro Diago, Area President, InterContinental Hotels Group, Latin America. 'It is important to IHG to be expanding the Crowne Plaza in key regions, and Venezuela is a country that has a lot potential for growth in the hospitality industry,' adds Alvaro Diago.

This hotel will also be consistent with the Crowne Plaza brand amenities such as 'The Place to Meet' program, which offers comprehensive meeting packages to ensure a seamless planning process; hence, an exceptional meeting experience. The program consists of three key components: a Two-Hour Response Guarantee, Crowne Meetings Director and a Meetings Daily Debrief. With meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 800 people in addition to the Palacio de Eventos Convention Center, the hotel provides the perfect venue for business meetings and social functions.

Guestroom amenities include: high-speed Internet access, dual-line data port phones with voicemail, coffee maker, hair dryer, mini bar, cable TV, refrigerator, iron and ironing board. In addition, the hotel will feature three restaurants, a lobby bar and pool bar and 24-hour room service. The Crowne Plaza Maruma Maracaibo will also feature Crowne Club floors, an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, a sauna and a Casino.

'We are proud to be a Crowne Plaza Hotel, as the brand is synonymous with luxury, high quality and excellence in service, as well as it is known for its great programs and high standards,' says Mr. Giuseppe De Pinto, President, Hotel Maruma, C.A.

The hotel features the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage which encompasses the entire sleep experience, from training staff on how to create and maintain a restful environment to providing innovative products and services. Program components include new bedding, guaranteed wake-up calls, designated quiet zones, night lights, drape clips, sleep CDs, sleep tips and amenities such as eye masks, ear plugs and lavender spray.

'We are thrilled about this new addition to our portfolio-this property is amazing and it is a perfect fit for a Crowne Plaza brand hotel, which is renowned across the globe as the ideal place for meetings, conferences and conventions,' concludes Alvaro Diago.