ATLANTA
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has shared plans for multiple dual-branded hotel developments across the U.S., with the first of them to open in Atlanta this week.
Owned by AWH Partners, LLC, and operated by Spire Hospitality, the Atlanta hotel will be franchised by an affiliate of IHG. Located in the hometown of IHG Americas corporate headquarters, the 501-room Hotel Melia will convert to a Crowne Plaza and will immediately undergo a total renovation, ultimately creating a 360-room hotel.
By January of 2016, the property will open within the same building a 102-room Staybridge Suites. Other development plans for dual-branded IHG hotels include a Holiday Inn and Candlewood Suites hotel for Joliet, Ill., a Crowne Plaza and Staybridge Suites hotel for San Diego and an IHG-managed Hotel Indigo® and Holiday Inn Express for Austin, Texas.
The dual-branded model allows for operating efficiencies yet doesn't compromise the distinct offerings guests have come to know and expect from each IHG brand. While they typically share the same building structure or services such as fitness centers, pools and food & beverage facilities, some back-of-the-house operations may also be shared or separate.
With a broad portfolio of brands that service diverse stay occasions – be it leisure, business, extended-stay or family travel - and spanning a variety of price points, IHG is well-placed to offer guests an exemplary experience.
"With a dual-branded property, our owners are able to cater to many different stay occasions in the same location while generating a more profitable bottom line," said Joel Eisemann, chief development officer, the Americas, IHG
In addition to the new dual-branded Crowne Plaza and Staybridge Suites in Atlanta, IHG has the following dual-branded properties in the pipeline:
- Joliet, Illinois - A dual-branded new-build 120-room Holiday Inn hotel and 100-room Candlewood Suites hotel is expected to open by fall 2015 and will be developed by Hospitality Guru Group.
- Austin, Texas – Being developed by JCI Companies and managed by IHG, a dual-branded new-build of a 134-room Hotel Indigo hotel and 171-room Holiday Inn Express hotel in downtown Austin is expected to open by year end 2016.
- San Diego - A new-build 186-room Crowne Plaza hotel and 146-room Staybridge Suites hotel is expected to open by fall 2017 and is being developed by Vanderval Hotels.
