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 InterContinental Hotels Group Appoints Gina LaBarre
Vice President, Brand Management,
Candlewood Suites
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ATLANTA (Feb. 9, 2004) - InterContinental Hotels Group [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the world's most global hotel company, has named Gina LaBarre vice president, brand management, Candlewood Suites.
 
Reporting to Tom Seddon, senior vice president, Americas Brand Performance of InterContinental Hotels Group, LaBarre is responsible for overall strategic direction of Candlewood Suites, including the development of brand communication strategies, tactical marketing promotions, revenue management and new product development.

"Gina brings a unique combination of skills to her role that make her the right person to lead the Candlewood Suites brand to even higher levels of success," said 


Gina LaBarre
Seddon.  "She has a proven ability to use IHG Enterprise Values to drive a brand; she has a strong understanding of the extended stay segment both marketing and operations; she has tremendous passion and expertise in brand management; and she has demonstrated excellence in using e-commerce to drive extended stay guests."

Since its inception in 1995, Candlewood Suites has offered customers a high quality, high value experience.  "It is very rare in the lodging industry to be able to find a leader who understands the operational and marketing sides of the extended-stay business," said Kirk Kinsell, senior vice president, Americas Franchising and Business Development.  "Gina's extensive hospitality career has afforded her this experience, and I am looking forward to working with her again and watching her drive the value of the Candlewood Suites brand."

LaBarre's new role marks her second return to the company, having previously been brand manager of e-commerce marketing for the Holiday Inn brand from 1998-2001, where she created and executed marketing initiatives targeting all channels that drive revenue for the brand. Before that, LaBarre served as field marketing manager, Holiday Inn, where she was responsible for all southeast regional marketing efforts. She also served as advertising coordinator for Holiday Inn Worldwide where she managed the planning and development of advertising campaigns for the Holiday Inn brand from 1991-1995.

A 15-year veteran in marketing and advertising, with an 11-year focus on the hotel industry, LaBarre began her career with Pringle Dixon Pringle as a media planner/buyer.  In 1995, she worked for Fricks Advertising in the capacity of an account supervisor for ValuJet, and later joined InterServ Services, Inc. in 1996 as director, client services and operations for BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. Most recently, LaBarre served as vice president, Internet marketing for Homestead Village Management, LLC, where she was responsible for Web site development and maintenance as well as online advertising.  LaBarre earned her bachelor's degree journalism from the University of Georgia. 

The success of IHG, provides a solid foundation to drive brand value - with some of the strongest, most recognized brands in the industry: InterContinental(r) Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza(r) Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn(r) Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express(r),  Staybridge Suites(r) and Candlewood Suites(r). 

IHG's integrated marketing initiatives help unify all six brands so they benefit and learn from each other's efforts  -- while keeping the brands distinct and differentiated to their customer segments. 

InterContinental Hotels Group (www.ichotelsgroup.com) owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, more than 3,400 hotels and 530,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. 

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Contact:
 Carolyn Hergert
 InterContinental Hotels Group
(770) 604-824

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Also See: InterContinental Hotels Group to Acquire the Candlewood Suites Brand for $15 million in Cash / October 2003
Candlewood Hotel Company, Inc. Proceeding Towards Complete Liquidation and Dissolution; Best Alternative for the Stockholders / October 2003


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