ATLANTA – IHG's upscale extended-stay hotel brand, Staybridge Suites, is unveiling two new interior design schemes at IHG's 2009 Americas Investors & Leadership Conference. The new looks are the results of an innovative approach undertaken by Staybridge Suites, which partnered with the Savannah College of Art and Design's (SCAD) interior design program, one of the top five interior design programs in the nation, to completely refresh the brand's standardized room décor packages.

This is the first time SCAD's interior design students provided full design services to a corporate entity as part of their coursework. The graduate students stayed at various Staybridge Suites properties and spoke to guests and employees, in order to gain a deep understanding of the Staybridge Suites brand identity and the features and amenities that are most important to extended-stay guests. Once the final concepts were chosen, two of the students assisted IHG in transforming them into fully-developed schemes that are ahead of the competition, yet practical and cost-efficient for Staybridge Suites owners.

"In order to stand out from the pack, we knew we had to take a different path," said Robert Radomski, vice president, Global Brand Management, Extended-Stay Brands, IHG. "We gave the students the opportunity to start with a blank canvas. The end result is two designs that bring a completely new look to our suites but allow us to remain true to the brand's identity and position us well as we prepare for the next generation of extended-stay travelers."

The new design packages will be available for implementation in early 2010. The "Spice" scheme takes inspiration from classic textile designs and clean geometry, bringing warm color, bold patterns and rich texture to guest suites. The "Vista" scheme focuses on fresh color, organic patterns and subtle textures, with abstract references to landscape, blending blue, green and terra-cotta shades.

Sustainability is a key element in both new designs, with several features dedicated to reducing environmental impact.

• Kitchen counter tops and bathroom vanities are made of quartz, an abundant natural mineral that is virtually maintenance-free and requires no chemical sealing.
• Modular carpet tiles are 100% recyclable and produce less waste upon installation and replacement.
• Low-VOC paint throughout the suites helps eliminate toxic airborne chemicals.
• Tile selections incorporate pre- and/or post-consumer recycled material.
• Many fabrics will be dyed and printed in a revolutionary process that does not require water, meaning left-over chemicals won't be flushed out into the environment.

The new designs also take into account the unique needs of the extended-stay traveler, including flexibility and storage. Ottoman cubes provide extra seating and storage space, with upholstered tops that can be flipped over to support a laptop or food and drinks. A desk hutch has been added to the existing work surface, providing guests with the ability to store items and customize their workspace, and a built-in closet unit provides customizable shelving for clothing and luggage. Additional flexibility has been incorporated into the studio suites, where the extended night stand functions as an added work surface and vanity area, and a bench stored underneath can serve as seating or double as a dressing bench.

"We're extremely pleased with how these new designs turned out, and early feedback from guests has been positive," said Radomski. "We've successfully created a warm and comfortable environment with a contemporary edge that still maintains the upscale residential feel that's integral to Staybridge Suites."

About Staybridge Suites Hotels

Staybridge Suites® is an innovative all-suite hotel brand designed to meet the needs of extended-stay guests. It is ideal for travelers seeking a residential-style hotel that is perfect for business, relocation and vacations. Staybridge Suites was ranked highest in guest satisfaction among extended stay hotel chains, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index StudySM.

Amenities include: three suite types (deluxe studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom/2 bath) with fully equipped kitchens, highly functional work areas, speaker phone with voicemail and direct dial access and free high-speed internet access. Staybridge Suites offers free "Wireless Anywhere", complimentary daily deluxe breakfast buffet and evening Sundowner reception three days a week, and 24-hour business services featuring complimentary PC work stations and free Internet access.

The Staybridge Suites brand continues to grow rapidly with more than 170 hotels open across the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. There are nearly 140 Staybridge Suites in the pipeline, including 7 outside of the Americas.

About SCAD: The University for Creative Careers

With more degree programs and specializations than any other art and design university in the United States, the Savannah College of Art and Design is uniquely qualified to prepare talented students for professional, creative careers. SCAD is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution that offers a choice of degree programs in 42 majors, plus 52 minors. Students can pursue their degrees at campuses in Savannah and Atlanta, Ga., in Lacoste, France, and online through SCAD-eLearning. The career preparation of each student is nurtured and cultivated by more than 600 professors with extraordinary academic credentials and valuable professional experience. Named one of the nation's "Most Interesting Schools" and one of "25 cutting-edge schools with an eye toward the future" by Kaplan-Newsweek, SCAD confers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Architecture, Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Fine Arts and Master of Urban Design degrees. For more information, visit .

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, nearly 4,400 hotels and over 640,000 guest rooms in 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 47 million members worldwide.

IHG has 1,500 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 140,000 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.

Caroline Sanfilippo
Coordinator Corporate Communications
+1 770-604-2495
IHG