Crowne Plaza Syracuse Downtown Opens Following $5 Million Renovation

Hotel Serves as a Gateway to Syracuse University and Nearby Le Moyne College

August 26, 2010 – ATLANTA – IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, today announced the opening of the Crowne Plaza Syracuse Downtown that includes a $5 million renovation and upgrades to guest rooms in the 20-story hotel.


Located at 701 E. Genesee St., the hotel is within seven miles of Syracuse Hancock International Airport and offers a free shuttle service. With convenient access to Highways I-81 and I-90, the Crowne Plaza Syracuse Downtown is within a half mile of the Syracuse University campus and less than three miles from Le Moyne College. It is also within a mile of the OnCenter Convention Center Complex and the Carrier Dome and a short ride to the New York State Fairgrounds and Armory Square, home to restaurants and entertainment venues.

In addition, the Crowne Plaza Syracuse Downtown is just a short distance from Upstate Medical University and University Hospital, as well as regional facilities for the Carrier Corp., Bristol-Myers Squibb and Lockheed Martin.

"The hotel's location close to the region's largest airport, a major university and the convention center complex makes it a leading attraction for meeting planners," said Gina LaBarre, vice president, Brand Delivery, the Americas, IHG. "With the conversion of this hotel to a Crowne Plaza, we can now offer our comprehensive meetings program, which meeting planners won't find at any other hotel in the Syracuse market."

The hotel has 12,500 square feet of upscale meeting rooms, banquet halls and event space including a conference center able to accommodate events for up to 200 people. For special events, guests can enjoy panoramic views of downtown Syracuse from the 20th floor Horizons room. Crowne Plaza's comprehensive meetings program ensures a seamless planning process and exceptional meeting experience consisting of three key components: a Two-Hour Response Guarantee, a Crowne Meetings Director and a Daily Meetings Debrief.

"We are excited to be opening at a location that is ideal for both business and leisure guests," said General Manager Mark Zimmerman. "It is the perfect facility for meetings and social events and it offers our guests the opportunity to experience Crowne Plaza's upscale experience."

The Crowne Plaza Syracuse Downtown has 279 guestrooms, including three suites, all recently renovated. Guests have access to a variety of amenities, including HSIA, wi-fi throughout the property, a fitness center and a business center. The hotel includes a three-meal restaurant, Redfield's, as well as the Library Lounge, which serves cocktails and light fare. Other amenities include covered parking, daily newspapers, in-room coffee and in-room safes.

Consistent with the Crowne Plaza brand, the hotel features the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage®, available at all Crowne Plaza hotels in the Americas. Sleep Advantage encompasses the entire sleep experience, from training staff on how to create and maintain a restful environment to providing innovative products and services. Program components include signature bedding, guaranteed wake-up calls, designated quiet zones, nightlights, drape clips and amenities such as eye masks, earplugs and lavender spray.

The property is owned by Richfield Syracuse Hotel Partners, LLC and managed by Richfield Hospitality, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.

Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts participates in IHG's guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards. The industry's first and largest guest loyalty program has 52 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 nearly 4,500 hotels worldwide.

Crowne Plaza was recently recognized by Lodging Hospitality magazine as one of the industry's top-growing brands. As part of the IHG global portfolio, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts has more than 300 hotels in nearly 60 countries, located in major urban centers, gateway cities and resort destinations. For reservations at Crowne Plaza properties, visit http://www.crowneplaza.com/ or call 1-800-2CROWNE.