IHG signs Holiday Inn® Plovdiv International Fair in Bulgaria

Holiday Inn Plovdiv International Fair will operate under a franchise agreement with new owner Petrov Commerce Ltd. The existing office building will be converted into a 68 room hotel and emerge as the first IHG hotel in Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city. The hotel will be situated at the entrance of Plovdiv City Centre close to Plovdiv fair grounds which attracts more than 600, 000 visitors annually.

Angel Kolev Petrov, Owner of Petrov Commerce Ltd. Said: “Our hotel has a winning formula - great facilities combined with a welcoming Open Lobby and friendly efficient service in a city rich in history and culture. We look forward to both international and local travellers coming to stay with us.”

Peter Vermeer, Director of development Eastern and Central Europe said: “We’re excited to be expanding in Bulgaria. The hotel market is starting to gain some momentum as international brands begin to make headway here. The Holiday Inn brand continues to resonate with guests and owners looking for hotels providing simple service, friendly hotel staff and comfortable beds in easily accessible locations.”

The Holiday Inn brand is part of IHG, which is currently celebrating its 10 year anniversary as a global standalone hotel company. Every Holiday Inn features signature bedding that includes a pillow menu, as well as meeting and on-site business facilities, free breakfast and a Kids Stay and Eat Free programme, providing guests with a relaxed comfortable atmosphere and the services they need. Holiday Inn hotels participate in IHG's guest loyalty programme, IHG Rewards Club, the industry's first and largest guest loyalty program with 76 million members.

There are currently 281 Holiday Inn hotels in Europe with a further 25 in the pipeline due to open within the next three to five years*.

* Figures as at 30th September 2013.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of nine hotel brands, including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites®, EVEN™ Hotels and HUALUXE™ Hotels & Resorts.

IHG manages IHG® Rewards Club, the world’s first and largest hotel loyalty programme with over 76 million members worldwide. The programme was relaunched in July 2013, offering enhanced benefits for members including free internet for Elites across all hotels, globally.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,600 hotels and 679,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories. With more than 1,000 hotels in its development pipeline, IHG expects to recruit around 90,000 people into additional roles across its estate 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.