In the Know Updates from InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

From exciting new property openings in some of Europe's most iconic locations, to a new weekend offer to their evolving collection of ‘Insider experiences', the brand is encouraging visitors to stay and explore more of Europe.

New Hotel Opening! InterContinental London Westminster (pictured)
History, Mystery and a Bit of Smoke

This November, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts will open InterContinental London Westminster – the first InterContinental property to open in the UK in 36 years. Located in the Royal and political heartland of Britain, this landmark hotel will feature 256 guestrooms including an impressive Penthouse, 14 one bedroom suites, and 30 studio suites. Despite being just steps away from British landmarks like Parliament and Westminster Abbey, guests will likely prefer to stay on property to experience Blue Boar Smokehouse & Grill, an authentic barbecue-style restaurant inspired by America's best pit masters. Using true smokehouse techniques and on-site charcoal and smoking ovens, Blue Boar will offer classic, rustic comfort food dishes prepared with local, high quality British produce. For a more refined evening, Emmeline's is set to be the hotel's ethereal retreat offering an exquisite selection of champagne and cocktails. The hotel will also feature a Club InterContinental Executive Lounge, eight state-of-the-art meeting and event rooms and a comprehensive business center.

New Hotel Opening! InterContinental Marseille – Hotel Dieu
Your Historical Gateway to Provence

After a two year renovation of the former Hotel Dieu, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is proud to unveil InterContinental Marseille – Hotel Dieu, a 194 room hotel in the city's most historical neighborhood. Set to open in March 2013, the property boasts breathtaking views of the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde, as well as an expansive terrace overlooking the serene Vieux Port. Inside, guests will enjoy a gourmet restaurant, access to the Deep Nature Spa, and a dedicated Cultural Space filled with artifacts uncovered during the excavation of the 18th century hotel.

New Offer! ‘InterContinental Weekend Escapes'
Working for the European Weekend

For over 60 years, the world's most discerning travelers have looked to InterContinental to provide unparalleled levels of comfort, service and insider knowledge while away from home. Beginning December 2012, the hotel brand is encouraging their guests to take a break through a new program -- ‘Weekend Escapes' with participating hotels throughout Europe offering special room rates with breakfast for guests whose travel dates include a Friday or Saturday night stay. With more time to explore Europe's favorite cities, travelers can take advantage of InterContinental's famed concierge program to enjoy insider experiences such as private bike tours through London or an up-close look at Vienna's Danube Wetlands.

New Bath Amenity! Agraria
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts' Select in-room Scent

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts launched its exclusive partnership with luxury home fragrance company Agraria to bring the iconic guest amenities to InterContinental's 169 hotels and resorts around the world by January 2013. Both InterContinental and Agraria found their North American beginnings over 40 years ago in San Francisco and have since grown into internationally renowned brands. As America's oldest and largest home fragrance company, Agraria serves as an extension of InterContinental's insider guest experience with a fully customized line of products formulated to suit the needs of the brand's jet-set clientele. The in-room products include an assortment of Lemon Verbena scented shampoos, lotions, bath soaps, and shower gels well in line with InterContinental's guest-room product.

Brand-Wide Initiative! Responsible Business Week
InterContinental's Commitment Lives On

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts proudly maintains a commitment to corporate responsibility year-round and to celebrate the brand has partnered with National Geographic for the third annual Responsible Business Week. The week-long initiative began in 2010 with 145 participating properties and in just one year the program grew to over 250 events around the world in support of the push for eco-tourism. This year, UNESCO has joined the cause with the sustainable tourism initiative “People Protecting Places” designed to protect and preserve the natural and cultural environments around the globe. To encourage environmental friendly practices for each individual property, IHG developed the online sustainability system Green Engage. The interactive software reached over 4,000 hotels worldwide to assist in managing hotel energy, waste, water, and consumption more effectively.

New Insider Wellness! Shape Up your Stay at InterContinental London Park Lane
A Wellness Program to Live For

Aimed at providing an accessible approach to healthy living, InterContinental London Park Lane has partnered with acclaimed wellness expert Elizabeth Peyton Jones to create the new Insider Wellness Experience. Elizabeth, author of Eat Yourself Young, has helped clients such as Thandie Newton maintain an energetic and positive lifestyle through her approach of small changes that make a large impact. The experience begins before guests even arrive by submitting a photo of their refrigerator's contents to Elizabeth for review. After assessing the guests' eating habits, an in-person evaluation is performed in the VIP room of Spa InterContinental where each guest will receive a completely customized two-week holistic detoxification program designed to target their individual needs. The program is concluded with a two-week follow up call with Elizabeth to discuss the guests' experiences and how to continue living their new, healthier lives.

A Year of Celebration! Landmark Anniversary for InterContinental Paris Le Grand

Throughout the year InterContinental Paris Le Grand has surprised and delighted guests with its 150th Anniversary Celebrations and the party isn't over yet. After the unveiling of the limited-edition “Down through the Years” pastry, Café de la Paix's Chef Christophe Raoux has amped up the festivities with over-the-top seafood platters, new fall menus, and a holiday season menu built completely of ingredients from a 150-mile radius around the property. To finish off the landmark year, the hotel will host an enchanting Christmas fete complete with a menu of Parisian delicacies and the traditional Fashion Christmas Tree exhibition.

A Centennial Celebration! InterContinental Carlton Cannes Looks Back On 100 Years of Glamour

Since its inauguration in 1913 the InterContinental Carlton Cannes has been a landmark of the French Riviera hosting the most notable figures from Hollywood stars to political leaders. Legend even has it Prince Rainier first laid eyes on Grace Kelly at The Carlton in 1955 before marrying her just one year later. To commemorate the past 100 years of enchantment, the hotel has announced new offers appealing to each of the five senses. Sights and sounds of the celebration include a specially curated art exhibit and a “Belle Epoque” brunch with an ensemble from the Music Academy of Cannes while a specially priced spa package brings appeals to the sense of touch with new levels of luxury. Famed Molinard Perfumery has created an exclusive home perfume for the hotel to celebrate the landmark anniversary and the hotel's Chef Laurent Bunel will prepare a selection of signature 100th Anniversary menu items.

Sustainability & Innovation! InterContinental Vienna's Collection of Electric Cars and Charging Stations

In an effort to provide an environmentally responsible alternative to urban transportation, InterContinental Vienna is now offering the use of electric cars, otherwise known as “e-carages” to hotel guests and local area residents. At a cost just nominally higher than a traditional automobile, the cars are in line with the city's growing trend of short distance driving and offer an emission-free alternative to their gas-guzzling counterparts. To make the transition to electric driving even more seamless, the hotel has also converted the cars' complimentary charging stations to run on a supply of renewable energy which will reduce the fleet's power consumption by about 70%.

Jet Set Meetings! Innovative New Meeting Space at InterContinental Berlin

In addition to its 21 top-of-the-line meeting rooms, InterContinental Berlin has announced a new Insider Location for off-site meetings and events of all shapes and sizes. Reopened in 2010, Berlin's Airport Tempelhof is now Tempelhofer Freiheit – a 300 hectare venue ideal for trade shows, music events, gala dinner, award ceremonies and more. Throughout the building InterContinental Berlin will assist meeting planners with reserving these insider meeting rooms in iconic spots like the airplane hangars, the main concourse, or airport ramp. As Europe's largest urban park, Tempelhofer Freiheit is also home to a variety of national events such as Berlin Fashion Week, DMY International Design Festival, and the Berlin Festival for Music.

New Installation! Specially Curated Art Exhibits at InterContinental Dusseldorf

Committed to maintaining a strong connection between the city's rich history and modern-day innovations, InterContinental Dusseldorf is known for its impressive interiors that pay homage to the past while acknowledging the artists of today. Most notably, the hotel has installed a specially curated Vertical Gallery that highlights modern photography in the elevator banks on each of the eleven floors. In addition to frequently updated exhibits from international artists, the hotel also boasts close ties with the NRW-Forum – a museum renowned throughout Europe for its collection of modern art.

See and Be Scene! At InterContinental de la Ville Roma

Thanks to its picture-perfect location atop the Spanish Steps, InterContinental de la Ville Roma provides the perfect backdrop to some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters. For years the hotel has welcomed the world's brightest stars to take advantage of the authentic Italian scenery including Woody Allen's “To Rome with Love” brining names like Penelope Cruz, Roberto Benigni, and Alec Baldwin through the doors. Most recently, the hotel underwent a complete transformation for a 1960's period piece depicting the life of famed “Volare” signer Domenico Modugno. Other notable guests have included Sean Connery, Tony Curtis, Andy Garcia, Mick Jagger, Mickey Rourke, and Christopher Lambert.

A Stylish Arrival! InterContinental Madrid Partners With Porsche

InterContinental Madrid has turned up the heat on luxury travel through a partnership with luxury car manufacturer, Porsche. The pair has teamed up to create a top-of-the-line experience that includes overnight accommodations in the newly renovated Presidential and Royal Suites with unfettered access to a sporty Porsche Boxster or sleek Porsche 911 to zip around Madrid's historic streets. The package also includes entry into the luxe Club InterContinental Madrid along with the suites' expansive bedrooms, comfortable lounge areas, dream kitchens, and panoramic views of the famed Paseo de la Castellana.

A Taste of Porto! Culinary Updates from InterContinental Porto- Palacio das Cardoas

Set in the heart of one of the world's most treasured culinary destinations, InterContinental Porto- Palacio das Cardosas is proud to announce several exciting developments to its food and wine offerings. Beginning with the addition of Chef Pedro Sequeria, the hotel's dining venue Astoria has graduated from café to fully operation restaurant with daily service of breakfast, lunch, and dinner while The Square has taken on the roll of the property's premier event space. Guests of the new Astoria restaurant will enjoy pre fix and a la carte selections as well as an expansive seafood counter serving fresh oysters, shrimp, crab, and clams. For travelers seeking a full culinary adventure, the hotel has also introduced the Wine Experience Package which includes two nights' accommodations and a day trip the Douro Valley complete with a visit to a Quinta where guests will be hosted by the property's winemakers.

More information: www.intercontinental.com