“Winning” was the buzzword of the 2014 IHG Americas Investors and Leadership Conference at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas this week. With nearly 4,600 owners and operators in attendance, IHG discussed the direction of the group for the next year.
“Winning is not a sometime thing — it is an all-time thing,” said IHG CEO Richard Solomons.
Starting January 1, 2015, IHG will offer owners a new online procurement solution called the IHG Marketplace, which IHG President of the Americas Kirk Kinsell deemed a “one-stop shop” for technology, furniture, fixtures and equipment.
“Great brands without great channel management won’t create great results,” Kinsell said. “Winning hotels take advantage of everything IHG offers.”
During the conference, IHG also announced plans for a new guestroom design at Crowne Plaza that will launch in 2015 at Crowne Plaza Midtown in Atlanta.
Additionally, Holiday Inn Express announced “Formula Blue,” a required renovation for Holiday Inn Express hotels in the Americas. The prototype design includes guestrooms that promise flexible work space, storage units providing horizontal luggage storage, moveable seating and new décor featuring neutral colors and interesting textural combinations.
The new design also features the Great Room, a multi-purpose area in the lobby encompassing the Express Start breakfast bar, dining area and additional seating areas. The Great Room also includes a business center, 24/7 market, individual check-in pods and meeting space utilizing both functional and natural light.
According to Jennifer Gribble, director and head of the Americas Holiday Inn Express brand, the cost will be US$83,000 per key for a 97-room hotel that has a pool. The Formula Blue design will be a standard for all hotels starting April 1, 2015.
In addition to Formula Blue, Holiday Inn Express is introducing a new coffee blend in all Holiday Inn Express hotels, Kick Start Robust Smart Roast, starting November 1.