The InterContinental Wildflower hotel will be owned by Wildflower Resort Company and managed by InterContinental Hotels Corporation.

The InterContinental Wildflower is the first domestic U.S. resort property to be added to the brand�s portfolio. 

Tom Hart, City Manger of Grand Prairie, responded to the InterContinental announcement with the statement: "The City of Grand Prairie is working closely with Wildflower Resort Company to support the development of what will surely become recognized as a landmark international destination resort in the DFW Metroplex. The City is delighted to welcome InterContinental Hotels and Resorts to Grand Prairie and the Wildflower team."

Isaac Manning and Daniel Burds of Trinity Works Capital of Fort Worth, Texas are acting as financial advisors for the Wildflower Resort Company. Wildflower Resort is being developed under a design build contract with Turner Construction as Project Manager and General Contractor, associated with Gensler architects. The development team includes Troon Golf who will manage the Nicklaus and Garcia designed golf courses. Other consultants include: Landscape Architect, MESA Design Group, Dallas; Structural Engineer, Thornton-Tomasetti Engineers, Dallas; MEP Engineer, James Johnston & Associates, Inc., Dallas; Civil Engineer, Schrickel, Rollins & Associates, Arlington, TX; Life Safety (Code), Rolf Jensen & Associates, Dallas; Lighting Design, Craig Roberts Associates, Dallas; Food Service Facilities, Cini-Little International, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, FL; and, A/V Acoustics, Pelton Marsh Kinsella, Dallas.

Just 20 minutes from DFW International Airport, and from either downtown Dallas or Fort Worth, the InterContinental Wildflower will be part of the new $200 million Wildflower Resort. Designed as a group meeting and golf destination, the Resort will include a 75,000 sq. ft. conference center and a 36-hole golf complex with a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course and Sergio Garcia�s first golf course design. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2003 and the hotel is expected to open in 2005.

The five-story main building of the hotel, with numerous ancillary buildings, will include 500 luxury guestrooms, 77 of which will be suites, as well as a 25,000 sq. ft. world class spa and fitness center. 

The neighboring Grand Prairie conference center, to be owned by the City of Grand Prairie operated by the InterContinental Wildflower, will offer 75,000-sq. ft. of state-of-the-art conference meeting space.

�We are pleased to introduce the InterContinental Wildflower to the growing portfolio of InterContinental hotels in North America,� said Bob Massey, vice president of business development, InterContinental Hotels Group. �The hotel is strategically positioned to serve both group meetings, business and leisure travelers and we are looking forward to delivering the world-renown InterContinental experience to all of our guests.�

�InterContinental is the ideal hotel for the Wildflower Resort because the brand is best positioned in the industry to exceed the expectations of our target market as an international group meeting and golf destination resort,� said Raymond J. Goad, President & CEO of Wildflower Resort Company. 

Destined to become an architectural landmark, the InterContinental Wildflower Hotel recalls the Texas ranch configuration with a forecourt, main �house� and numerous ranch-style ancillary buildings. The gentle curving metal roof over the main hotel building will serve as the resort's icon. The hotel�s interior design concept reflects a similar juxtaposition between traditional and modern styling. The public spaces place contemporary furnishings and textures against a backdrop of warm woodnotes and Texas stones. The guestrooms will offer a sophisticated, monochromatic palette with elegant detailing and handsome built-ins that communicate Texas hospitality with a decidedly cosmopolitan flair. 

Hotel amenities will include:

• Access to the 75,000-sq. ft. Grand Prairie Conference Center, providing an elegant 32,000 sq. ft. pre-function entry to the 25,000 square foot Grand Ballroom and 9,500 square foot Junior Ballroom. Other unique features include a 3,000 square foot Amphitheater and more than 6,000 square feet of additional meeting rooms and spacious pre-function areas.
• 185-seat casual dining restaurant that bridges out to a two-story all-glass spiral-shaped bar.
• 80-seat specialty restaurant featuring fine dining.
• Separate marble shower and garden tub in each guest bathroom. 
• Access to 36 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature/Sergio Garcia golf.
• 25,000-sq. ft. health spa and fitness center with state of the art exercise facilities, lounges, gardens, lap pool, treatment rooms and luxury day rooms.
• Several outdoor pools and lounge areas.
• Exquisite main courtyard with circular fountain.
• Lakefront beach area with naturally landscaped 300 ft. �Slippery Rock Creek� slide.
• Access to restaurants, shops and entertainment-related facilities on resort property.
• 800 parking spaces.

InterContinental Hotels Group is a leading global hotel group whose brands include InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites. It owns, operates or franchises more than 3,300 hotels and over 515,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world.