Perspective Magazine | Timeshare & Fractional Ownership News, Resort Reviews & Guides » InterContinental Hotels Group

TravelCom Awards IHG as Mobile Marketer of the Year

Susan Knox — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:25:54 +0000

The TravelCom Network is proud to announce the first annual TravelCom Mobile Marketer of the Year Award.

As the featured keynote speaker about “The State of Mobile” at the 2011 TravelCom Conference, Google was honored to present the inaugural award to IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group).

“TravelCom’s panel of mobile advertising experts evaluated the marketing strategy of IHG, along with those of other innovators, and chose IHG as the winner for its outstanding work in enhancing the consumer travel experience through an integrated and innovative mobile marketing strategy,” said Michael Slinger, Director, Mobile Ads at Google, Inc. “I was glad to be the bearer of such great news.”

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IHG Launches First New-Built Holiday Inn In India

Perspective Magazine | Timeshare & Fractional Reviews — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:06:10 +0000

Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport features new logo and brand standards as part of the global $1 billion relaunch

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms, has launched the first new-built Holiday Inn hotel in Mumbai, India. The 225-room property represents the new Holiday Inn brand, which is in the midst of the biggest relaunch in hospitality history, creating a more contemporary brand image including a new logo and driving consistency across the entire Holiday Inn estate worldwide.

Situated at Saki Naka junction in Andheri, Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport offers a wide selection of food and beverage outlets such as Saptami – an all day dining restaurant with seven unique interactive live stations, 72 – the lobby bar, Saptami Express – Mumbai’s newest Deli. Guests staying at the Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport can rejuvenate themselves through a wide variety of spa treatments and unwind at the hotel’s roof-top infinity pool. A fully-equipped business center along with conferencing facilities and expansive banqueting facilities make the Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport an ideal business and leisure destination. The property is located in close proximity to both the international and domestic airports.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport. The new-look hotel is a great product of the next generation hotels planned for India, with an additional 28 new-look hotels in the pipeline. Holiday Inn hotels are specifically designed for business and family oriented leisure travelers in need of a full-service lodging experience, and this property fits well in the Indian market. We are confident that the Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport will address the increasing demand for internationally-branded hotels in India,” said Shaun Langdon, Regional General Manager, IHG

Harry Thaliwal, General Manager, Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport, added “Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport is the first new-built Holiday Inn in India, which is an important milestone for IHG. We are offering a business class product and a variety of services to our customers. We believe in “Stay Real”, a service commitment that recognizes our guests as individuals and our staff who understand their real needs while they are at the hotel and provide excellent service.”

The relaunch focuses on the things research shows matter most to guests – a modern, contemporary hotel with efficient, friendly service and a great night’s sleep. Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport exemplifies the standards of the USD $1 billion Holiday Inn relaunch, featuring new signage, new exterior landscaping and design, an enhanced welcome experience with a redesigned lobby, de-cluttered reception desk and all-new signature scents and sounds.

Holiday Inn is in the midst of the biggest relaunch in hospitality history creating a more contemporary brand image including a new logo, and driving consistency in all 3,296 Holiday Inn brand family hotels around the world. With over 2,000 hotels already relaunched worldwide, the completion of the relaunch of the global estate is expected to be completed in 2010.

About IHG
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 4,400 hotels and more than 645,000 guest rooms in 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites® and also manages the world’s largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club® Rewards with 48 million members worldwide.

Gold At 2010 ARDA Convention For Holiday Inn Club Vacations

Perspective Magazine | Timeshare & Fractional Reviews — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:53:42 +0000

Ten Outstanding People and Projects Selected as Industry’s “Best in Class”

At the American Resort Development Association’s (ARDA) 2010 Convention & Exposition in Las Vegas, 10 people and projects nominated under the Holiday Inn Club Vacations brand achieved the highest honor in the timeshare industry: the ARDA Gold.

Holiday Inn Club Vacations’ ARDA Gold winners this year include the following people:

Peter Menges, Marketing Management Executive

Joanna Lambert, Sales Management Executive

Marc Shaw, Sales Trainer

Mike Blank, Salesperson – In-House

Taciana Quiles, Administrative Staff Member

Shawn Boschert, Resort Assistant Manager

Clifford Black, Resort Staff Member

Tim Williams of Gatorland®, Vendor / Supplier Staff Member

And the following projects in the Advertising and Promotions category:

Lifetimes owner newsletter – Fall 2009, Newsletter Print Format

Shop. Dine. Play. Golf Campaign, Integrated Marketing Campaign

Timeshare developer Orange Lake Resorts, with more than 25 years in the industry, has been a member of ARDA since 1982. Since Orange Lake’s strategic marketing alliance with IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) in September of 2008, the company has submitted their nominations for the highly esteemed ARDA Awards under the Holiday Inn Club Vacations brand. This year’s performance at the 2010 ARDA Convention was a company record.

Holiday Inn Club Vacations has already hired more than 500 employees year to date across their resorts and have more than 100 open positions at their Orlando, Fla. and Myrtle Beach, S.C. locations.

For more information on career opportunities with Holiday Inn Club Vacations, contact Carolyn Argo at 407.905.1456.

Through IHG’s guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards, guests renting villas will earn Priority Club points during their stays at Holiday Inn Club Vacations, which they can redeem for free nights at IHG properties or exchange for merchandise and special experiences. Holiday Inn Club members enjoy access to Holiday Inn Club Vacations resorts and IHG’s network of more than 4,400 hotels worldwide. Holiday Inn Club Vacations will continue to expand their Member Resorts to top North American destination locations. For more information on Holiday Inn Club Vacations, visit www.hiclubvacations.com.

Top Sales Performers To Be Recognized By Holiday Inn Club Vacations At Annual Sales Award Gala

Perspective Magazine | Timeshare & Fractional Reviews — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:56:00 +0000

Multi-platinum entertainers to create “A Night with the Masters” at House of Blues in Orlando

Holiday Inn Club Vacations, the timeshare brand created as a strategic alliance between IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), the world’s largest hotel group, and timeshare industry leader Orange Lake Resorts, is celebrating another record-breaking year by recognizing their top sales consultants at their annual, invitation-only Sales Awards Gala. The event takes place on Thursday, March 11th at House of Blues in Orlando’s Downtown Disney.

The theme for the awards celebration is aptly named “A Night with the Masters,” a dual tribute, first to the elite class of sales consultants who will be recognized for their success, and also to the collaboration of multi-platinum artists who will take the stage as the night’s entertainment. Performers from 70’s and 80’s rock and pop sensation bands including Deep Purple, Orleans, Loverboy, John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band and Survivor will play the hits of the decades on the House of Blues stage.

This year’s sales awards gala is certainly cause to celebrate for the Holiday Inn Club Vacations team, who’ve continued to enjoy tremendous growth, despite the odds in a down economy.

John Sutherland, Senior Vice President of Sales for Holiday Inn Club Vacations and 20-year industry veteran, says “Right now, the theme for our sales team is ‘off the charts.’ Our annual net sales numbers have continued to increase year over year, and this year we’ll see 13,000 more tours as a result of our new marketing channels. And, we’re still hiring top industry sales consultants in what we expect to be our best year yet.”

Holiday Inn Club Vacations has already hired more than 350 employees year to date across their resorts and have 100 open positions at their Orlando, Fla. location and 30 open positions in Myrtle Beach, S.C. They’re currently seeking experienced sales consultants at both resorts.

For more information on career opportunities with Holiday Inn Club Vacations, contact Carolyn Argo at 407.905.1456.

Holiday Inn Club Vacations At Orange Lake Resorts Selects Winter Park Construction For $16.6 Million Refurbishment

Perspective Magazine | Timeshare & Fractional Reviews — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:40:06 +0000

Winter Park Construction (WPC), one of Central Florida’s largest and most respected general contractors has recently been selected to direct a $16.6 million refurbishment at the 1,450-acre, Kissimmee-based Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort as well as two of their other Holiday Inn Club Vacations resorts in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. The yearlong project will include the total interior renovation and upgrade of 224 two-bedroom golf villas and the soft-goods renovation of 408 one, two- and three-bedroom units at the popular vacation ownership properties.

The timeshare developer Orange Lake Resorts, with more than 25 years in the industry, recently became Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort as a result of their recent marketing alliance with IHG (Intercontinental Hotels Group), creating the Holiday Inn Club Vacations timeshare brand. The two companies share a common heritage, customer profile and vision for growth, with Kemmons Wilson having founded IHG’s Holiday Inn hotel chain in 1952 and creating Orange Lake Resort in 1982.
In announcing the new contract, Jeff Forrest, President of Winter Park Construction,

(WPC) added that Charlie Cecil has been named to direct the Holliday Inn Club Vacations project. A 25-year veteran in the construction industry and 14 years with Winter Park Construction, Cecil is Manager of the company’s Renovation/ Special Projects Division.

The new assignment will be completed in three phases, beginning in January 2010 and finalized in December. During the renovation project, Winter Park Construction will remove all furnishings, complete interior paint and millwork detail, replace carpeting and ceramic flooring, add new granite countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms and install plumbing and lighting fixtures, all new soft-goods, case-goods, window treatments, artwork and accessories.

Added Forrest, “We are proud of Winter Park Construction’s 29-year relationship with Orange Lake Resort, having built virtually built every structure on this property. In 2009, we launched our Renovations/Special Projects Division that specializes in multi-unit renovations and are currently completing a 108-unit soft-goods renovation at Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort.”

Commented Tammy Oliver, Sr. Director – Warehouse Services for Orange Lake, “I look forward to working with Winter Park Construction in the coming year. They are unsurpassed in their experience within our industry and truly understand what it takes to create a home-away-from-home for our owners and guests. Holiday Inn Club Vacations is growing at a rapid pace, and as we expand outside of Central Florida, it’s like having an extended family growing with us.”

Added Forrest, “While this will be a construction challenge, we will be working closely with the Project Management Team to ensure that there is no inconvenience to guests during peak occupancy times.”

Founded in 1974, Winter Park Construction specializes in the hospitality, commercial, multi-family, studenthousing, and senior living markets. WPC has completed projects all over the Southeast United States, Las Vegas, and Cancun, Mexico.

The Orlando Business Journal has ranked Winter Park Construction one of Central Florida’s largest local construction/general contractor companies. Engineering News-Record Magazine also lists them as one of the nation’s Top 400 Contractors. With revenues exceeding $200 million, Winter Park Construction has completed over one billion square feet of construction work including over 10,000 timeshare units and 30,000 units in the multi-family sectors. Over 40% of the operations staff with management responsibilities are LEED accredited.

In announcing the new assignment, Forrest added, “More than 80% of our work is repeat business; we are honored to once again be assisting Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort and its member resorts with their construction needs. Our continuing goal is to provide a construction experience that exceeds our clients’ expectations.” For more information, visit www.wpc.com.

About Holiday Inn Club Vacations
Holiday Inn Club Vacations was created in September 2008 as a strategic alliance between IHG, the world’s largest hotel company, and Orange Lake Resorts, a leader within the timeshare industry with more than 25 years of proven success. Holiday Inn Club Vacation’s flagship property in Orlando, located next to Walt Disney World® Resort, was established in 1982 by Holiday Inn founder Kemmons Wilson. A 1,450-acre golf, water park and sports resort, Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort includes 2,478 villas and plans for expansion to 4,500 villas. Other member resort locations include Lake Geneva, Wis., Panama City, Fla. Brownsville, Vt., Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Gatlinburg, Tenn. Holiday Inn Club members enjoy access to Holiday Inn Club Vacations resorts and IHG’s network of more than 4,200 hotels worldwide. Holiday Inn Club Vacations will continue to expand their Member Resorts to top North American destination locations. For more information on Holiday Inn Club Vacations, visit www.hiclubvacations.com.

Holiday Inn Club Vacations Goes Live In Lake Geneva, Wis., And Panama City, Fla.

Perspective Magazine | Timeshare & Fractional Reviews — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:35:11 +0000

Holiday Inn Club Vacations today announced that resorts in Lake Geneva, Wis., and Panama City, Fla., are now part of the timeshare brand’s portfolio. They join the flagship location, Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort in Orlando, Fla. Starting today, travelers can rent vacation villas in Lake Geneva and Panama City through a dedicated website at www.hiclubvacations.com.

“We’re pleased to offer leisure travelers and their families two more destinations for the ultimate resort vacation experience,” said Christian Hempell, vice president, Holiday Inn Club Vacations. “Whether they’re looking for a great golf experience, spa treatments, a ski getaway or a sunny beach escape, our guests will find that Holiday Inn Club Vacations provides the comfort and value of Holiday Inn in a full-service resort style environment, and they can now take advantage of two more Holiday Inn destinations to spend their precious leisure time with family.”

Both resort properties offer a host of amenities for timeshare owners and guests:
o Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Lake Geneva Resort is located just a short drive from Chicago and Milwaukee and offers award-winning golf courses, distinctive restaurants and lounges, horseback riding, a sophisticated spa and fitness center, an indoor/outdoor waterpark, a ski and snowboarding park, and hiking and biking paths.
o Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Bay Point Resort is located in Florida’s Panama City Beach on 1,100 acres of wildlife sanctuary overlooking St. Andrew’s Bay. The resort features two 18-hole championship golf courses, a world-class day spa and fitness center, 24-hour business center, private beach, kid’s activities, restaurants, marina services and nearly 200 deep-water boat slips.

Holiday Inn Club Vacations was announced in September 2008 as a strategic alliance between IHG, the world’s largest hotel company, and Orange Lake Resorts, a leader within the timeshare industry with more than 25 years of proven success. This alliance is unique in that it allows IHG to enter the timeshare industry, purely through an exclusive licensing and marketing agreement with no capital investment. Orange Lake will continue to own and operate these resorts as a privately held company.

Don Harrill, President and CEO of Orange Lake Resorts, said, “These two unique resorts have been very popular with our members, many of whom live within a short driving distance. We’re proud to fly the Holiday Inn Club Vacations flag at these resorts and look forward to welcoming not only our existing owners but Priority Club members and other guests booking through the website.”

Through IHG’s guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards, guests renting villas will earn Priority Club points during their stays at Holiday Inn Club Vacations, which they can redeem for free nights at IHG properties or exchange for merchandise and special experiences. These resorts will also welcome members of the newly formed Holiday Inn Club™ exchange program, which allows members to exchange their weeks at any Holiday Inn Club Vacations resort for hotel nights at IHG’s more than 4,100 hotels worldwide. Holiday Inn Club members will also have access to Resort Condominium International’s (RCI) network of more than 4,000 resorts.

Later this month, the Ascutney Mountain Resort in Brownsville, Vt., will also go live as a Holiday Inn Club Vacations resort, and the brand will continue to seek opportunities to expand in top North American destination locations, adding more vacation experiences, features and benefits. Orange Lake also plans to build a flagship Holiday Inn Resort hotel at the Orlando resort and has the potential to develop up to 2,500 more timeshare villas at this location. For more information, visit www.hiclubvacations.com.

About Holiday Inn Club Vacations
Holiday Inn Club Vacations was created in September 2008 as a strategic alliance between IHG, the world’s largest hotel company, and Orange Lake Resorts, a leader within the timeshare industry with more than 25 years of proven success. Holiday Inn Club Vacation’s flagship property in Orlando, located next to Walt Disney World® Resort, was established in 1982 by Holiday Inn founder Kemmons Wilson. A 1,450-acre golf, water park and sports resort, Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort includes 2,412 villas and plans for expansion to 4,500 villas. Other member resort locations include Lake Geneva, Wis., and Panama City, Fla., with Brownsville, Vt., joining in late February. Holiday Inn Club members enjoy access to Holiday Inn Club Vacations resorts and IHG’s network of more than 4,100 hotels worldwide. Holiday Inn Club Vacations will continue to expand their Member Resorts to top North American destination locations. For more information on Holiday Inn Club Vacations, visit www.hiclubvacations.com.

About IHG
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 4,100 hotels and more than 600,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of well recognized and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®, and also manages the world’s largest hotel loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards with 40 million members worldwide.

IHG has more than 1,700 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 200,000 jobs worldwide over the next few years. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards program at www.priorityclub.com. For the latest news from IHG, visit our online Press Office at www.ihg.com/media.

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InterContinental Hotels Group Expands EMEA Quality Assurance Program

Perspective Magazine | Timeshare & Fractional Reviews — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:15:52 +0000

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has announced an expansion of its robust Quality Assurance program for all properties and brands in Europe, Middle East and Africa. The program is designed to measure and enhance brand compliance and guest service delivery at 650 properties in EMEA; IHG has partnered with LRA Worldwide, Inc. on the initiative.

LRA, a leading provider of performance measurement services to the global hospitality industry, worked closely with IHG leadership to develop a customized evaluation protocol for six of IHG’s hotel brands in the region – InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Express by Holiday Inn, Hotel Indigo and Staybridge Suites. In all, LRA consultants will perform 1-2 evaluations annually at each hotel.

“I have worked with LRA for many years and have always been impressed.” explained Kirk Kinsell, President of, Europe, Middle East and Africa, IHG. “This program provides actionable insights. We want our guests to love our hotels. And we want them to make our hotels their first choice. This program will help us deliver on that goal.”

“IHG recognizes that current global economic conditions require increased attention to quality,” said Rob Rush, CEO of LRA Worldwide. “Consumers are scrutinizing every dollar spent, and those companies that deliver what they promise in terms of service, product and even emotional well-being will persevere in these difficult times.”

Including IHG, LRA provides performance measurement services to seven of the top ten hotel companies in the world. In all, LRA’s Quality Assurance practice conducts nearly 13,000 site visits and evaluations each year, either as a stand-alone offering or as an integrated part of an overall Customer Experience Management project. In addition to its work with other lodging clients such as Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts, Grupo Posadas, Pestana Hotels, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Wyndham Worldwide, LRA provides QA services to industry leaders in Sports, Conference Centers, Timeshare, Gaming, Homebuilding and Travel.

About IHG:
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) is the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 4,100 hotels and more than 600,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®, and also manages the world’s largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club® Rewards with 40 million members worldwide. IHG has more than 1,700 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 200,000 jobs worldwide over the next few years. IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at www.ihg.com.

About LRA Worldwide, Inc:
LRA Worldwide is a leading research and consulting company in the emerging discipline of Customer Experience Management (CEM). We work with our clients to help them design and deliver consistently exceptional customer experiences in order to drive customer satisfaction, loyalty and advocacy, and company growth and profitability.

In LRA’s 25-year history, we have grown from a provider of customized quality assurance evaluation programs for the hospitality industry, to a leading CEM consulting company offering a variety of client solutions. The evolution has been driven by our clients asking us one question – “How do we get better?” In response, we have built a range of performance measurement, research, training and consulting solutions to help them do so. Today, we are a growing company operating in more than 120 countries throughout the world, helping clients such as Starwood Hotels & Resorts, the National Basketball Association, the PGA TOUR and Ritz-Carlton Clubs deliver exceptional customer experiences. Every touch. Every time. For more information, visit us at www.LRAworldwide.com.