IHG Launches $1 Billion Holiday Inn Redesign

InterContinental Hotels Group today announced a global relaunch of its Holiday Inn brands that will include a room redesign, enhanced services and changes to lighting, landscape and signage.

IHG said Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express owners and franchises will invest up to $1 billion during the next three years as part of the brand redesign. Both existing Holiday Inns and those under development are expected to have all relaunch elements implemented by the end of 2010, and guests will begin to see them in spring 2008.

Room refurbishments will include new bedding and a more modern design to the hotel showers, and properties will add new lighting, landscaping and design features to their common areas. The relaunch also will target hotel staff to improve the level of service at Holiday Inn properties, and the brand also is changing its signage, eliminating the current shield-shaped signs.

"The Holiday Inn brand family comprises nearly a quarter of the industry's midscale lodging segment in the United States and is the most stayed-in hotel brand in the world, with roughly 100 million room nights a year, so ensuring the continued strength and power of this global icon is a top priority for IHG," company CEO Andy Cosslett said in a prepared statement.