InterContinental Hotels Group, multi World Travel Award winner including “Central America’s Leading Conference Hotel”, announced today plans for new 75-room Holiday Inn Express in Somerset, Kentucky. The new property is expected to open 27 Feb. 2009 and will showcase the brand’s new sign, which is the seal of approval that this hotel exemplifies the standards of the $1 billion Holiday Inn brand relaunch programme. First announced in 2007, the relaunch programme was established to create a more contemporary brand image, increase quality and drive consistency.

Guests at the Holiday Inn Express Somerset will experience a comfortable and smart environment with innovative preferred guest upgrades to ensure a productive stay while traveling for business or leisure. The hotel’s newly enhanced complimentary Express Start® breakfast bar will feature a full selection of breakfast items including cheddar cheese omelets, bacon, biscuits, yogurt, fruit and the brand’s proprietary cinnamon roll and Smart Roast® coffee.

“Holiday Inn Express hotels are designed to be the smart choice for value-conscious business and leisure travelers,” said John Merkin, senior vice president, Brand Management, Holiday Inn Brands, The Americas. “With more than 1,800 properties worldwide and more than 700 properties in the pipeline, the Holiday Inn Express portfolio continues to expand in markets like Somerset/Lake Cumberland, providing our guests with a enhanced stay experience at a great value.  We welcome this hotel into the Holiday Inn family of brands with the new sign and everything it represents.”

The new property offers a variety of amenities such as fitness centre, 24-hour front desk, neatly lit, indoor heated pool, largest meeting room in Somerset, ADA certified and has kid suites with bunk beds in a separate room form the main.  Standard Holiday Inn Express guest rooms feature comfortable queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair, in room coffee machine featuring complimentary Smart Roast 100% Arabica coffee. Business travelers will find large desks with ergonomic chairs, free high-speed internet access and free local phone and toll free (U.S. and Canada only), two phones with private voicemail and complimentary USA Today newspapers.

A lot of money has been invested to build this property and we are looking forward to the end result,” said Tonya Sherman, general manager. “Holiday Inn Express is modern, fresh, clean and uncomplicated and a perfect fit for Somerset/Lake Cumberland.”

The property is within walking distance to the Somerset Mall and Regency 8 Theatre and just minutes from many boat ramps to Lake Cumberland. Several restaurants are also a short drive from the hotel.

Holiday Inn Express participates in IHG’s guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards.  The industry’s first and largest guest loyalty program has more than 37 million members.  Priority Club Rewards membership is free and guests can enroll by logging on at priorityclub.com, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of this hotel or any of IHG’s almost 4,000 hotels worldwide.

The Holiday Inn Express- Somerset is owned and managed locally, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group and is located at 50 Stevie Lynn Dr. Somerset. Telephone: 606-425-4444: The Holiday Inn Express & Suites, owned by Anil & Amisha Patel, will be managed by IHG’s Americas operations division, The Hotel Management Group, under a long term management contract.
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