IHG Becomes First Hotel Company to Connect With Guests Using Gowalla's Location-Based Social Network

ATLANTA, May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In support of the recently launched Hit it Big summer promotion, IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has turned to popular location-based consumer service, Gowalla, to extend the offer beyond traditional marketing channels and into the mobile space. Now through June 30, 2010, as guests arrive and check-in at participating IHG hotels, including Holiday Inn® and Crowne Plaza®, they'll also be able to "check-in" on Gowalla via a mobile device and receive targeted reminders how they can Hit it Big with rewards.

"As our guests increasingly turn toward mobile applications, we want to connect with them in a relevant way and ensure they discover how they can get rewarded for staying with us," said Del Ross, vice president, U.S. Sales and Marketing, IHG. "We're excited to be the first hotel company to use Gowalla's location-based service to market at the intersection of mobile and physical check-ins."

Hit it Big offers guests a choice of rewards, either double Priority Club® points or double air miles, or up to $500 in prepaid gift cards* to spend at almost any national retailer starting with the second weekend stay at any Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Staybridge Suites or Candlewood Suites between now and Aug. 31, 2010.

Guests must register for the promotion and must be members of IHG's guest loyalty program, Priority Club Rewards.

Priority Club Rewards is free, and guests can sign up at www.priorityclub.com or by calling 1-888-211-9874. Members benefit from flexible features such as no points expiration, no blackout dates on reward nights and more redemption options than any other hotel loyalty program, including its latest Hotels Anywhere™ and Flights Anywhere™.

Priority Club Rewards members who stay at IHG hotels and participate in the prepaid card promotion will receive their prepaid card of choice via mail approximately four to six weeks following their stay.

Full terms and conditions

*U.S. residents only

Notes to Editors:

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON :IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms.  IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns, through various subsidiaries, over 4,400 hotels and more than 650,000 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 48 million members worldwide. IHG has 1,300 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 160,000 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

SOURCE IHG Hotels & Resorts