Staybridge Suites® Reveals the Secrets Behind The Art of Traveling Solo

ATLANTA, Aug. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Staybridge Suites, IHG's upscale extended stay hotel brand, knows that many travelers, especially those who stay in hotels for weeks or even months at a time, struggle with being away from home. To help ease this struggle, Staybridge Suites has partnered with celebrity chef, world traveler, author and television personality G. Garvin to provide useful tips, tricks and hints so guests can master "The Art of Traveling Solo."

Starting today, consumers can visit the Staybridge Suites Facebook page for useful travel content and tips dedicated to "The Art of Traveling Solo." The application offers videos, pins and recommendations of who to follow on Twitter, and consumers can also provide their own tips and learn from other experienced solo travelers through a special Q&A section. G. Garvin will host a series of online videos that will show fans what he's learned from spending so much time on the road, from how to make a quick and tasty meal in a hotel suite kitchen, to how to pack for an extended trip. G. Garvin will also host a live 30-minute Facebook chat at 3:30 EST today about "The Art of Traveling Solo" from the Staybridge Suites Facebook page.

"I spend weeks at a time on the road for work, and, like a lot of people, I find it tough being away from my friends and family," said G. Garvin. "I've found that if you stay at a hotel like Staybridge Suites, you have plenty of space for yourself in your suite, but you get the chance to socialize with and get to know other guests, so traveling alone is a lot less lonely."

One of these opportunities is The Social, the evening reception held three times a week at all Staybridge Suites hotels. Every Tuesday through Thursday, guests enjoy complimentary food, drinks and conversation. Staybridge Suites has recently rolled out new customizable menu items for The Social, including sliders, flatbread pizzas, tacos and salads. Guests can also take advantage of other areas of the hotel meant for social interaction, including great outdoor spaces like The Patio and The Backyard, where guests are invited to relax and unwind after a long day. The Outdoor Living Room mimics upscale residential trends, with casual, relaxed spaces where guests can enjoy the great outdoors, with amenities that include comfortable, all-weather outdoor furniture, stacked-stone fireplaces, high definition televisions and open, landscaped gardens.

"We want people to feel totally comfortable at our hotels, like they're a member of our family and not just a guest," said Robert Radomski, vice president, Global Brand Management, Extended-Stay Brands, IHG. "One of the most important things we can do is create a sense of community by giving our guests the chance to socialize with each other and with our hotel teams. We all know how lonely it can sometimes be when you're away from home, but the friendly, down to earth experience our guests get at Staybridge Suites is the next best thing."

Staybridge Suites is an innovative all-suite hotel brand designed to meet the needs of extended-stay guests. With more than 180 hotels open, it is ideal for travelers seeking a residential-style hotel that is perfect for business, relocation and vacations. 

Amenities include: three suite types (deluxe studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom/two-bath) with fully equipped kitchens, highly functional work areas, two-line speaker phone with voicemail, direct dial access and free local calls. Staybridge Suites offers free "Wireless Anywhere", complimentary daily deluxe breakfast buffet and The Social evening reception three days a week. The Fitness Room, Business Center, Guest Laundry Room and The Pantry convenience store are open 24 hours a day.

Staybridge Suites entered the extended-stay market in December 1998 when its flagship location in Alpharetta, Ga., opened. Since that opening, the Staybridge Suites brand continues to grow rapidly with more than 180 hotels open across the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. There are more than 75 Staybridge Suites in the pipeline, including eight outside of the Americas. For more information or to book a reservation, go to www.StaybridgeSuites.com or call 1-888-238-8000.

About IHG
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG,NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organization with 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®, as well as our two newest brands, EVEN™ Hotels and HUALUXE™ Hotels & Resorts. IHG also manages Priority Club® Rewards, the world's first and largest hotel loyalty program with over 67 million members worldwide.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,500 hotels and more than 666,000 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.priorityclub.com for more on Priority Club Rewards. For our latest news, visit www.ihg.com/media, www.twitter.com/ihgplc, www.facebook.com/ihg or www.youtube.com/ihgplc.

SOURCE InterContinental Hotels Group