IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) announces the opening of the new Holiday Inn Express SanDiego South – National City, conveniently located just off Interstate 805 and minutes from San Diego International Airport and major tourist attractions, including the San Diego Zoo and Sea World.

The former Comfort Inn, located at 1645 E. Plaza Boulevard, recently underwent a $2 million renovation of the entire 91-room hotel, including all guest rooms and the public spaces.

The newest Holiday Inn Express in the San Diego area, the hotel is conveniently located and caters to both business and leisure travelers. It is just a short distance from the San Diego Convention Center, cruise ship terminals and the downtown Gaslamp District. Other attractions include Knotts Soak City Water Park, Historic Old Town and the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Also nearby are a wide variety of restaurants along with entertainment and shopping areas.

The new hotel includes features in keeping with the $1 billion Holiday Inn relaunch, the largest project of its kind in the history of the hospitality industry. First announced in 2007, the relaunch program creates a more contemporary brand image as part of the drive to increase quality and consistency across the global portfolio. The program focuses on arrival and welcome services, guestroom and guest-bath comfort, and a redesigned logo and signage.

“Holiday Inn Express hotels are designed to be the smart choice for value-conscious business and leisure travelers,” said Gina LaBarre, vice president, Brand Management, The Americas, IHG.  “With more than 2,000 properties worldwide and hundreds more in the pipeline, the Holiday Inn Express portfolio continues to provide our guests with an enhanced-stay experience at a great value.  We welcome this new hotel into the Holiday Inn family.”

“Holiday Inn Express is a fresh brand and the updates we’ve completed throughout the entire hotel provide a relaxing and convenient lodging experience,” said Ricky Kothari general manager, Holiday Inn Express San Diego South – National City. “We’re excited to be joining the Holiday Inn family and to be able to provide visitors to the area with outstanding service in a fresh setting.”

With its central San Diego area location, the new hotel is close to several educational and government facilities including San Diego State University and the University of California San Diego. It is also just four miles from Naval Base San Diego. Business travelers can take advantage of the hotel’s free wireless Internet service in guestrooms and meeting rooms, as well as its 24-hour business center and fitness center. The hotel also features 750 square feet of meeting space.

Guests will enjoy a comfortable and smart environment with innovative, preferred-guest upgrades to ensure a productive stay while traveling for business or leisure. The hotel’s complimentary Express Start® breakfast bar features a full range of breakfast items including a rotation of egg and meat selections, biscuits, yogurt, fruit and the brand’s proprietary cinnamon roll and Smart Roast® coffee.

The SimplySmart™shower incorporates a proprietary Stay Smart™ Kohler showerhead, signature shower curtain with curved rod, upgraded 100 percent cotton terry towels and a custom line of cinnamon-scented bath products.  Guests will enjoy the SimplySmart™ bedding collection, where they will find new crisp fresh bedding, which features an attractive decorative throw, a medium-weight duvet blanket and soft, 200-thread-count sheets.

Guest rooms have been completely refreshed and offer new furniture, including comfortable queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair and an in-room coffee machine featuring complimentary Smart Roast® 100% Arabica coffee.  All rooms include granite countertops and an urban design scheme with a mix of green and java-colored furnishings. Business travelers will find large desks with ergonomic chairs, free local and toll-free phone service with private voicemail and complimentary USA TODAY® newspapers.

The Holiday Inn Express San Diego South – National City is owned by SD Plaza One LP and managed by Excel Hotel Group under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.