INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF CROWNE PLAZA HOTELS & RESORTS PORTFOLIO IN TEXAS

Austin receives newly renovated Crowne Plaza hotel

ATLANTA (July 14, 2006) – InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, announces the opening of its latest Crowne Plaza hotel in Austin, Texas (USA). There are now seven Crowne Plaza hotels with more than 2,200 guestrooms in the state of Texas with the addition of the Crowne Plaza Austin-North Central.

“This property is the tenth hotel to be added to the Crowne Plaza portfolio in North America this year,” said Kevin Kowalski, vice president, Brand Management, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts. “We are delighted to add it to our portfolio of hotels in Texas. We look forward to providing our industry leading meetings service and a great night’s sleep via our Sleep Advantage program to our guests in Austin.”

Conveniently located in north central Austin off I-290 and I-35, the 292-room Crowne Plaza hotel has two dining facilities. Garden Terrace, the hotel’s restaurant offers continental cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while Club Max Lounge offers casual dining in the evening.

Consistent with the Crowne Plaza brand, the hotel offers a comprehensive meetings package to ensure a seamless planning process and exceptional meeting experience consisting of three key components: a Two-Hour Response Guarantee, Crowne Meetings Director and a Meetings Daily Debrief. With 12,000-sq. ft. of function space consisting of 13 meeting rooms and a ballroom, the Crowne Plaza Austin-North Central provides the perfect venue for business meetings and social gatherings.

Amenities at the Crowne Plaza Austin-North Central include: complimentary wireless and wired high-speed Internet access throughout the hotel, a business center, outdoor pool and whirlpool, fitness center, complimentary parking and on-site guest laundry facility.

The hotel features the newly introduced Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage which is available at all Crowne Plaza hotels in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The Sleep Advantage 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’re happy to open a Crowne Plaza hotel in Austin,” said Randy Brunnemann, general manager. “With $4 million in renovations to the guestrooms and suites plus the lobby, restaurant and lounge our guests will be delighted with the hotel’s upgrades coupled with the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage.”

The hotel is just minutes from a variety of restaurants, shops and golf courses as well as major businesses such as Dell Computers and Whole Foods corporate office. Nearby attractions include Lake Travis and the Texas State Capitol. The property is also just minutes from the Sixth Street Entertainment District.

The Crowne Plaza Austin-North Central which is owned by Hotel USA Partners, LLC and managed by Matrix Hospitality Group, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group is located at 6121 North IH-35, Austin, Texas. The hotel was formerly known as the Red Lion Hotel.

The Crowne Plaza Austin- North Central participates in Priority Club Rewards, the world's first and most global hotel loyalty program spanning more than 3,600 hotels in nearly 100 countries. Members earn their choice of points toward free hotel nights or merchandise, or earn frequent flyer miles with more than 40 domestic and international airline partners. Enrollment in Priority Club Rewards is free. Guests enroll online at www.priorityclub.com, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or at the front desk of any Crowne Plaza hotel.

Crowne Plaza is the number one growth brand within its segment in the U.S. (source: Lodging Hospitality Annual Brand Report, March 2006). As part of the InterContinental Hotels Group global portfolio, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts has 243 hotels in 48 countries, and are located in major urban centers, gateway cities and resort destinations. For reservations at Crowne Plaza properties, visit www.crowneplaza.com or call 1-800-2CROWNE.

The InterContinental Hotels Group portfolio in Texas is represented by all seven of its brands, including the upper upscale, upscale, full service, lifestyle, limited service, upscale extended-stay and midscale extended-stay segments with 223 hotels and more than 28,000 rooms.


Contacts:

Natasha Gullett, Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts, Natasha.Gullett at ichotelsgroup.com, 770.604.5597

Monica Smith, Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts, Monica.Smith at ichotelsgroup.com, 770.604.5562