Cairo, Egypt -- Six Continents Hotels has appointed Pascal Gauvin as the new General Manager of the Phoenicia Inter-Continental Beirut and Vice President of Operations, Lebanon.

Gauvin arrives in Lebanon from Africa where he was previously Regional Director of Operations, Gabon, and General Manager at the Okoume Palace Inter-Continental Hotel.

Married with two children, Gauvin, a French national, has been with Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts since January 1993, and has held a several executive positions, in Paris, Manila, and more recently as Resident Manager at Inter-Continental hotels in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

He replaces Francois Chopinet, who transfers to Switzerland as General Manager of the Hotel Inter-Continental Geneva.

Raymond Khalife, President, Six Continents Hotels, Middle East and Africa, said: "Pascal Gauvin has a great deal of relevant experience for this important position in one of our key Middle East markets.

"Francois Chopinet has played a vital role in the development of our hotel brands in Lebanon, and in particular in the revival of the Phoenicia Inter-Continental, and we wish him well on his return to Europe."

Re-opened two years ago following a $100 million refurbishment, the Phoenicia Inter-Continental Beirut has quickly re-established itself as one of the Middle East's premier hotels.

In Lebanon, Six Continents Hotels manages also Le Vendôme Inter-Continental Beirut, the Mzaar Inter-Continental Resort and the Holiday Inn Beirut Dunes, as well as the Crowne Plaza Beirut which opens this summer.

Six Continents™ Hotels, the hotel business of Six Continents PLC of the United Kingdom [LON:SXC, NYSE:SXC (ADRs)], owns, manages, leases or franchises more than 3,260 hotels and 514,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories. The following are some of the service marks owned by Six Continents Hotels, Inc., its subsidiaries or affiliates: Holiday Inn®, Crowne Plaza®, Express by Holiday Inn™, Holiday Inn Select®, Holiday Inn Garden CourtÒ, Holiday Inn SunSpree® Resort, Staybridge Suites® by Holiday Inn® , Holidex®, Priority Club®, Inter-Continental®, Forum®, Parkroyal®, and Centra®. Six Continents Club®, Six Continents™, and 6 Continents™ are service marks of Six Continents PLC and used under license. Six Continents Hotels, Inc. offers information and reservations capability on the Internet - www.sixcontinentshotels.com, for Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts, www.crowneplaza.com for Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts, www.holiday-inn.com for Holiday Inn hotels, for Express by Holiday Inn hotels, www.staybridge.com for Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn, and www.priorityclub.com. For the latest news from Six Continents Hotels, visit our online Press Office at .

Tony Lewis
+ (9714) 3369909
IHG