InterContinental has announced
that a newly built Crowne Plaza hotel will open in the city of Liege in
Belgium in 2008. Royal Selys SA, a Belgian company, has signed a franchise
agreement with IHG to run the hotel on its opening.

Liege, located in eastern Belgium close to the German and Dutch borders, in
the heart of the ‘Euregio’ region, is increasingly gaining a reputation as a
dynamic business and leisure destination.  It boasts excellent transport
links with a recently opened airport and a high speed train station is set
to open in 2007.

The city itself has recently undergone a major regeneration programme
incorporating the historic centre and the Royal Opera House.  This urban
regeneration has helped the city reposition itself as a cultural centre
attracting a new influx of leisure travellers as well as business
development.

The newly built 120 room Crowne Plaza Liege hotel will incorporate two
historical buildings; the “H™tel de Sélys-Longchamps” and “H™tel des Comtes
de Méan”.  It will be located just five minutes from the heart of the
historical and cultural centre which includes the opera, theatres, and
philharmonic orchestra, and is in easy reach of the main rail terminal
providing quick access to Brussels (50 minutes), Maastricht (20 minutes) and
Aachen (30 minutes).

It will offer both business and leisure guests exceptional amenities; as
well as a fine dining restaurant, coffee shop and lobby bar there will be a
800 square metre spa and wellness centre with indoor swimming pool and
sauna.

It will also cater for business guests with extensive meeting and
hospitality facilities including a 400 capacity ballroom in Renaissance
style and six meeting rooms with total capacity of 240.  There are also two
meeting rooms located in the tower.  In addition, there will be 80 parking
spaces available for guests.

Robin Wicks, chief operating officer for Crowne Plaza in Europe commented:
“IHG is delighted to announce this franchise agreement with Royal Selys SA,
to bring our fifth Crowne Plaza hotel to Belgium.  Liege is a city that has
undergone a real transformation over the last few years and is now
attracting international business and leisure guests.  The hotel with its
exceptional location and facilities will help to further enhance the appeal
of the city.”

Pierre Berryer CEO from Royal Selys SA and his Chairman added:
“We are proud to partner with the IHG team in this new Crowne Plaza
development which incorporates the historic “H™tel de Sélys-Longchamps” and
“H™tel des Comtes de Méan” two of the finest buildings in Wallonia.  We have
chosen IHG for several reasons; its hands-on personal approach, its global
reach, its customer focus and robust reservation system.  Our aim is to
impress even the most demanding guest at this new Crowne Plaza hotel.”
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