First Crowne Plaza Hotel for Hickory, NC, Opens (United States)
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First Crowne Plaza Hotel for Hickory, NC, Opens (United States)
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Category: North America & West Indies / Carribean islands - United States - Industry economy -
Hotel opening
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2008-10-07
$2.5 million renovation brings upscale accommodations to area
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, today announced that the Holiday Inn Select in Hickory, N.C., has re-opened as a Crowne Plaza hotel, after a $2.5 million renovation.
The 200-room Crowne Plaza Hickory I-40 is considered the most prestigious hotel in Hickory, a city known for its thriving furniture industry. Located adjacent to the Hickory Metro Convention Center, the hotel is one mile from the Furniture Mart and just a short distance from the Hickory Ridge Shopping Center, with more than 500,000 square feet of retail space.
In support of the local furniture industry, most of the hotel's furnishings were purchased from local manufacturers. The property also features a collection of pottery by well-known artists, and there are plans to commission a modern-design sculpture for the main atrium.
"This outstanding property has been in the IHG family since 1984, and we're thrilled to see it change into a Crowne Plaza," said Gina LaBarre, vice president, Brand Management, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, the Americas. "The property is already known as the most prestigious hotel in Hickory, and Crowne Plaza's comprehensive meetings program and dedication to providing a good night's sleep will provide an even better experience for our guests."
Amenities at the Crowne Plaza include an upscale restaurant and lounge, indoor pool, fitness center and business center. The multimillion-dollar renovation included the complete refurbishment of all guest rooms and bathroom upgrades to include roomier showers, wider showerheads and luxury towels. A lobby bar was added in the hotel's atrium, and the existing lounge was renovated and redecorated. Meeting rooms were remodeled, and a new registration desk was added.
The hotel features the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage, which is 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 new bedding, guaranteed wake-up calls, designated quiet zones, night lights, drape clips, sleep CDs, sleep tips and amenities such as eye masks, ear plugs and lavender spray.
Also consistent with the Crowne Plaza brand, the hotel offers a comprehensive meetings program to ensure a seamless planning process and exceptional meeting experience consisting of three key components: a Two-Hour Response Guarantee, Crowne Meetings Director and a Daily Meetings Debrief. The hotel has nearly 9,000 square feet of flexible upscale meeting space, with 10 meeting rooms.
The Crowne Plaza is located at 1385 Lenoir Rhyne Blvd. SE, Hickory, N.C., 28602.
The Crowne Plaza Hickory is owned and managed by Piedmont Center Associates, LLC, 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 more than 39 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 more than 4,000 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, and are located in major urban centers, gateway cities and resort destinations.
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