InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is celebrating the opening of its 5,000 hotel globally – Hotel Indigo, Lower East Side New York. The portfolio encompasses nearly 100 countries.
Richard Solomons, Chief Executive Officer, IHG, commented:
“Over time we have built a leading portfolio of hotel brands and scale where it matters most. Alongside our network of owner relationships and powerful digital platforms, these remain the key drivers behind our consistently strong performance. The recent landmark openings that make up our ‘5,000 Club’ also demonstrate the momentum behind our brand portfolio and our ability to increase our presence in the world’s most important growth markets.”
Landmarks on IHG’s journey to reach 5,000 hotel:
In December 2003, the number of IHG properties globally totalled just over 3,500.
2004: IHG launched the Hotel Indigo brand. Hotel Indigo now has more than 60 properties open globally and this number is expected to double in size within the next three to five years.
2012: IHG launched HUALUXE Hotels and Resorts designed for the Chinese travellers. The first HUALUXE opened in 2015.
In the same year EVEN Hotels was launched targeting the wellness-minded traveller; an industry first. The first two EVEN hotels opened in 2014 in America.
2014: IHG opened its 400th Crowne Plaza property and 200th Staybridge Suites hotel.
2015: IHG acquired the American-based independent boutique hotel operator, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants.
During this time IHG embarked on a ‘brand refresh’ for its Holiday Inn core brand. Holiday Inn now has more than four times the number of rooms outside of the US than its nearest competitor, whilst Holiday Inn Express has doubled its presence outside the US since 2007.
Details: www.ihgplc.com
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- Published: 12 January 2016
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Fans of Jimi Hendrix will be delighted to learn that his London home opens in February 2016 as a visitor attraction.
Back in the late 1960s Jimi Hendrix lived in a top floor flat at 25 Brook Street in Mayfair, central London. It was only a small flat but the building already had a musical heritage. It was the home of George Frederic Handel, the famous composer who had lived there 240 years before.
Handel House Museum has been open to the public for a number of years. From February 2016 the home of Jimi Hendrix will also open and the museum will be renamed: ‘Handel & Hendrix in London’.
It has been a two year project to restore the Jimi Hendrix bedroom to what it was when he lived there in 1969. His main living room has also been restored to how it would have been when Jimi Hendrix was in residence.
The museum offers an insight into the domestic life of the American superstar. Jimi Hendrix moved in on 1st July 1968 shortly before the release of his Electric Ladyland album. The house was the scene of many hours of writing and visits by fellow musicians, not to mention many jamming sessions with fellow musicians.
The new exhibition includes the Epiphone FT79 acoustic guitar which Hendrix used for everything he composed in this country.
There will also be new interviews with some of the many visitors to the flat as well as the people who lived and worked in the immediate vicinity of the Brook Street flat.
Jimi Hendrix was well aware of its connection with Handel. George Frederic Handel lived and worked there for 36 years. He wrote many of his greatest works there including The Messiah. He died in his second floor bedroom in 1759.
Handel & Hendrix in London has been designed so that visitors can choose the rooms of the musician they are most interested in – or they can take in the whole building.
Handel & Hendrix in London will host a variety of events in the building during the evening from a champagne and canapés reception for up to 40 guests to tours of the historic rooms and use of the in-house AV.
Details: www.handelhendrix.org
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- Published: 22 December 2015
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It opens in March 2016 but the exact location is still a well-kept secret. It is a 30,000ft site somewhere in north London.
The new Crystal Maze works in exactly the same manner as the television programme. A team of eight take on tests of mind, body and skills set in the four adventure time zones: Aztec, Medieval, Industrial and Futuristic, not forgetting The Crystal Dome.
The team will be put through their paces by guides and will compete against three other teams in a variety of trials that test personal effectiveness and skills as a team. A crystal is earned for each test completed. Each crystal earns the team more time in the final challenge: The Crystal Dome.
Crystal Maze is basically a fun activity but it does promote teamwork, leadership and problem solving. The Crystal Maze will be open to businesses, educational groups, teams, clubs and community groups.
More details: www.the-crystal-maze.com
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- Published: 03 December 2015
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InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) have launched two bespoke services for business clients - IHG Assist and IHG Meeting Point. Both are being rolled out across more than 4,900 IHG hotels worldwide.
IHG Assist: addresses the increasing concern for traveller safety and security.
IHG Meeting Point: enables the group to offer the right meeting space at the right hotel whilst acknowledging sector-specific requirements.
IHG Assist is being implemented in direct response to requests from corporate clients who wish to ensure appropriate security measures are put in place especially for employees visiting locations prone to natural disasters.
These include:
*A 24/7 phone line to answer client concerns regarding traveller safety and security.
*A security consultations between a corporate client’s security team member or travel manager and a member of IHG’s Global Security Team to address risk assessment concerns and security queries.
* A guest location service where corporate clients will be offered access to information about their employees’ location during times of crisis and emergencies.
IHG Meeting Point addresses the need for higher levels of service for certain industries including pharmaceutical, automotive, energy, technology, medical healthcare and some manufacturing industries.
IHG Meeting Point is designed to give IHG hotel employees industry-specific knowledge. For example, pharmaceutical companies are driven by a heavy regulated industry in which exclusivity is key – having two pharmaceutical companies staying or hosting events at the same hotel, during the same time is prohibited.
IHG Meeting Point allows IHG hotel staff to manage these bookings in a way that ensures no two pharmaceutical companies are staying in, or meeting at, the same hotel at any given time.
Details: www.ihgplc.com
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- Published: 04 December 2015
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Named EXHIBITIONISM will run for 22 weeks from April to September 2016. It promises to be the most comprehensive insight into the group who have been described by critics as ‘The Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band’.
EXHIBITIONISM will take over the entire two floors of the Saatchi Gallery with nine thematic galleries.
EXHIBITIONISM combines over 500 original Stones' artefacts, with cinematic and interactive technologies offering an immersive insight into the band's fifty year history.
The exhibition includes 'never seen before ‘dressing room and backstage paraphernalia to rare instruments; original stage designs, their costumes, rare audio tracks and video footage; personal diaries; poster and album cover artwork; and a wraparound cinematic experiences that celebrate every aspect of their career.
Centre stage is the musical heritage that took them from a London blues band in the early 1960s to the world famous band they are today.
Collaborations and work by a vast array of artists, designers, musicians and writers will be included - from Andy Warhol, Shepard Fairey, Alexander McQueen, and Ossie Clark to Tom Stoppard and Martin Scorsese.
During the run of the show a limited number of evenings are available for exclusive hospitality events either for an intimate gathering or a larger event.
The Saatchi Gallery is located at the Duke of York's HQ in King's Road by Sloane Square in central London. The Saatchi Gallery occupies the entire 70,000 square feet of the building with all rooms available for hire for both large and small events, with a capacity of up to 1500 people.
Details: www.saatchigallery.com
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- Published: 30 November 2015
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