EVEN™ Hotels Announces Rockville, Md., and Norwalk, Conn., as Locations For First Two Hotel Openings

ATLANTA, Aug. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG; NYSE: IHG (ADRs)] today announces the signing of two EVEN™ Hotels properties, confirming locations for the highly-anticipated first hotels and continuing development momentum for the holistic wellness brand. The hotels, located at 1775 Rockville Pike in Rockville, Md., and 426 Main Avenue in Norwalk, Conn., are strategically located in major feeder markets for Washington, D.C. and New York City, and are well-suited to meet the demands of the large population of wellness-minded people living in and traveling to those areas.

"We are excited to add these two new properties to our pipeline, and continue the development momentum for the EVEN Hotels brand, beyond New York City, in two strong, strategic markets. Locating the hotels in Rockville and Norwalk – both affluent communities with a high wellness-minded resident and traveler base – firmly establishes our wellness-focused brand near major markets where the existing IHG family of brands already has a broad footprint," said Kirk Kinsell, president, the Americas, IHG. "The reactions we have seen and heard from consumers, our business partners and within the hotel industry since introducing the brand support that EVEN Hotels is the right brand, meeting the right need within the mainstream lifestyle category for today's travelers."

The properties will be conversions of existing structures, designed to the unique specifications of the EVEN Hotels brand in order to offer a consistent holistic wellness experience. Both will feature flexible public workspaces; dining and social areas; natural outdoor spaces; in-room fitness elements; a state of the art, three-zone gym and flex space for small group fitness classes; as well as design and technology elements to help guests maintain the balance they desire. The 91,222 square foot EVEN hotel in Rockville will feature 167 guest rooms and seven guestroom floors, while the Norwalk property will feature 129 guest rooms and four floors.  They are expected to open in early 2014.

The hotels are located in key business markets with a significant over-index of wellness-minded travelers. Montgomery County is located at the center of the Washington, D.C. federal and advanced technology marketplace, and home to the headquarters of more than 60 major companies, many in the technology, financial services and healthcare segments. The Washington, D.C. area is a key growth market for EVEN Hotels and the hotel, along the Rockville Pike Corridor, is a significant investment for the brand. Located in a multi-story, mixed-use development, the property will demonstrate how the EVEN Hotels brand's flexible design can work in a more complex, non-traditional hotel space. The Greater D.C. Metropolitan Region is home to approximately 660 properties and 106,051 rooms¹, and the Rockville EVEN hotel will be the only hotel in the region offering a complete wellness experience at a mainstream price-point.

The Norwalk EVEN hotel is strategically positioned in an area of significant business development and as one of the first properties to premier the new brand, will serve as a prototype to showcase the new brand and conversion process.  Norwalk, Conn., is part of the New York metropolitan area and headquarters to numerous international businesses including the U.S. headquarters of Virgin Atlantic, Diageo North America, Pepperidge Farm® and Xerox®. Leisure travelers to the area can enjoy watersports, camping and fishing in the nearby Norwalk Islands. Other nearby attractions include The Maritime Museum, Stepping Stones Museum for Children, the South Norwalk Historic District and the Sheffield Island Lighthouse and Nature Trail.

"EVEN Hotels supports the growing segment of the traveling public for whom wellness – both at home and when traveling – is so important," said Adam Glickman, head of EVEN Hotels. "In fact, a recent consumer and shopper insights report from McKinsey & Company estimates that global health and wellness sales will reach $1 trillion by 2017. We know that our target guests want a wellness partner on the road and we are here to meet that need. Through our holistic wellness offering, innovative technologies and distinct service culture, this brand will help guests find the balance they seek while away from home."

The EVEN Hotels brand concept is a result of more than 24 months of consumer insights research and offers a holistic approach to enabling wellness in travel. The brand offers a fresh perspective on wellness travel and provides guests a variety of options to help them Eat Well, Rest Easy, Keep Active and Accomplish More, supported by in-hotel and mobile technologies and a unique team member education and certification program.

¹ Destination DC™; Washington, DC Facts & Figures; 2012

About EVEN™ Hotels
EVEN™ Hotels, a new brand from IHG, meets the large and growing demand for a hotel brand to help wellness-minded travelers keep their balance on the road at a mainstream price point. An industry first, EVEN Hotels invites wellness on every journey by providing solutions for all aspects of travelers' wellness needs. With an emphasis on four components, Eating Well, Resting Easy, Keeping Active and Accomplishing More, the brand serves as a travel partner, helping guests feel better about their experience and themselves based on the choices they are able to make. Globally, no other brand does this under one roof, at a mainstream price point.

The brand launched in 2012 and is expected to be a key pillar in the IHG portfolio of preferred brands and in the long term, a key driver in market share growth in the U.S. EVEN Hotels expects to open its first property in early 2014 and continue strategic development efforts in key markets including the Tri-state area, the Washington, D.C. area, San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, Portland, Seattle and Los Angeles.

For more information, visit http://evenhotels.com/. Find EVEN Hotels on Twitter https://twitter.com/EvenHotels or Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EvenHotels.

Notes to Editors:

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

IHG manages IHG® Rewards Club, the world's first and largest hotel loyalty program with over 74 million members worldwide. The program was relaunched in July 2013, offering enhanced benefits for members including free internet across all hotels, globally.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,600 hotels and 678,000 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.

Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.ihgrewardsclub.com for more on IHG Rewards Club. For our latest news, visit: www.ihg.com/media, www.twitter.com/ihg, www.facebook.com/ihg or www.youtube.com/ihgplc.

SOURCE IHG Hotels & Resorts