Each of the following InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) brands have distinct brand personalities.  Brand personalities help consumers understand what is being offered. For consumers, a brand's personality can be the most important reason why one brand is chosen above all others. Strong brand identities/personalities help cement an image into the consumer's mind.

Hotel Indigo: Refreshingly Local

Hotel Indigo is designed for the business traveler who is looking for something other than a typical business hotel. Hotel Indigo inspires you with a refreshing experience (which renews your spirit) by offering the feel of a boutique hotel with the benefits of a big hotel brand.

• Engaging Design
• Inspired Service
• Fresh Design 
• Urban Oasis
• Inviting Rooms
• Continuous Renewal
• Inspiration
• Phi Bar & Restaurant
• Pet Friendly                                                                              

Holiday Inn: Change Is Inn                   

• Kids Eat Free
• Free High Speed Internet
• US Today Newspaper
• Guest Champion Position
• New Logo and Signage
• Nascar (US Sponser)
• Room Service Right... On Time
• Best-4-Breakfast Program
• Holiday Inn e*Host

Holiday Inn Express: Stay SMART, Stay REAL

• Free Express Breakfast Bar
• SMART Guest Bath
• SMART Bedding Collection
• SMART Connect
• Free High Speed Internet
• Free Local Calls
• Guest Champion Position

Staybridge Suites: Make It Your Place

Staybridge Suites is an all-suite hotel brand designed for guests to stay connected to their families, friends, and work. Flexible service is provided when away from home, usually for 5+ nights.

• Free Breakfast Buffet
• Evening Receptions
• Free Local Calls
• Free High Speed Internet
• 24-Hour Business Services
• 24-Hour BridgeMart
• Free Guest Laundry
• BBQ Pavilion
• Great Room with Fireplace

Candlewood Suites: Consider Us Home

The Candlewood Brand provides a home away from home experience when traveling for an extended period of time.  Friendly staff and all-suite rooms make guests feel right at home.

• Home Amenities
• Spacious Suites with Full Kitchens
• Large Workspace
• Free High Speed Internet
• Free Guest Laundry
• Gazebo Grill
• Video Lending Library

Related Links

The New Holiday Inn Website: Redesigned from the ground up for easier use.

Best-4-Breakfast Program

Ronald's Post:  His expectations of the hotel brands

"What keeps IHG's most valuable guests coming back? Consistency. But if even one hotel can't live up to The Standards, every property suffers."  A Look At Why Standards Are Important.

In a recent thread titled, "Bonus Points For Surveys", a Pittsburgh Guest Champion Employee asks members if points would encourage members to fill out post-stay surveys for bonus points. Any surveys one may receive after staying in an IHG hotel is an important duty to fill out. The reason why? Specific hotels are graded on the responses from members' experiences. Since most IHG hotels are independently owned and operated, the results are one of many ways that IHG monitors its indepentely owned hotels.

I have listed the requirements that hotels such as Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels must follow. These standards are MANDATORY. Hotels that fail to meet one or more standards face significant fines. Filling out a survey received by email after a stay is one way that allows IHG to 'keep an eye' on certain hotels. I encourage one to take the time to fill out online surveys by email, drop a comment card in the box provided by the hotel, and to fill out the Guest Satisfaction Feedback Form provided online. Though you may not always receive a response from management after filling out a post-stay survey, I can assure you that your comments and suggestions do NOT go unnoticed! IHG is dedicated to guests' opinions and desires to hear about your stay; especially, as the Holiday Inn brand moves closer to a full rebranding. These standards ensure that the brand will move to a more consistent experience for all.

Your feedback regarding how you were treated as a Priority Club Member (Gold and Platinum) is one of the most important sections to fill out. If you are a guest randomly selected to complete a survey, please do your part and take the extra time to share your experience.  When I receive a survey, I always remember to take time to fill it out.

What post-survey questions have General Managers "On Their Toes"?

1. Does the hotel staff recognize your status in the program?
2. Is there a separate check-in and check-out area for members?
3. Are complimentary upgrades at check-in the best available rooms?

"The Weekly Guest Scores Are Important"

Copyright © 2009 Amanda Kehoe

Holiday Inn Select Atlanta Perimeter Dunwoody

Existing Standards That IHG Brands Must Follow:

• Priority Check-In for Gold and Platinum Members

All hotels must provide Priority Check-In service to Priority Club Gold and Platinum members.

• Complimentary Newspaper

A complimentary newspaper, either local, national, or international, must be provided Monday through Friday. At check-in, guests must be informed orally or in writing (by a sign at the front desk or card handed to the guest), whether the paper will be delivered to the room, or if it is to be picked up at the front desk or elsewhere.

• Extended Check-Out

If the guest requests and upon availability, the hotel must extend check-out until 2pm.

• Hotel Room Upgrades for Platinum Members

Platinum members must be offered an upgrade as determined by the hotel, which might include rooms on higher floors, corner rooms, newly renovated rooms or rooms with a preferred view. The upgrade must be offered at time of check-in, based on availability, and will apply to the member's personal guest room. The hotel is not required to upgrade members to suites.

• Signage and Applications

Priority Club Rewards signs and applications must be displayed in the registration area of each hotel.

• Guaranteed Room Availability

When contacting the Priority Club service center directly and guaranteeing the reservation with a valid credit card, each Platinum Member will be guaranteed one room for personal use, for reservations made at least 72 hours prior to the date of arrival, except during special events that result in extraordinary room demand, as determined solely by the hotel. The member will not be charged more than the prevailing rate for the accommodation requested, and the member is not entitled to a rate less than the prevailing rate. Once made, Platinum Guarantees may not be dishonored for any reason. Platinum Guarantees do not apply to Reward Night reservations.

• Express Check-Out

With the presentation of a satisfactory method of payment at time of check-in, Priority Club members are entitled to Express Check-Out.

Measured Standards That IHG Hotels Are Evaluated:

• Member Recognition at Check-In

All hotels must greet members and recognize their Elite status at time of check-in. Hotels will be given an initial 12 months to reach the standard, April 2009 through March 2010. Hotels outside of US will be measured for compliance as the program is incorporated. Measurement will be conducted on a calendar-quarter basis.

• Reward Nights

All hotels must accept Reward Night reservations. Reward night inventory equal to 5% of the hotel's guest room inventory will be allocated. All hotel benefits, excluding Upgrades for Platinum Members, must be honored for Priority Club members in conjuction with their Reward Night stays. Measurements occur randomly, three times per calendar year.

• Priority Club Training

Priority Club training must be completed annually as specified by Priority Club Rewards. Approved Priority Club Rewards material must be included in hotel New Employee Orientation program. Hotels will be measured for compliance at the end of each calendar quarter. Training should be a continuous process, not just a one-time occurrence.

Additional Links:

Decide What Communications To Receive: InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) Privacy Policy regarding Guest Satisfaction Surveys and Email Communications.

Staybridge Suites Ranked Highest: J.D. Power & Associates rates the brand highest in Guest Satisfaction, 2009.

Hotel Accolades: Example of Holiday Inn who received the Quality Excellence Award from IHG.

Torchbearer Award: Hotels in the IHG system that maintain the highest standards of excellence in various categories, from quality to customer satisfaction. The Torchbearer Award is IHG's most prestigious award.

The Emotions and Feelings: Visiting My Grandparents

Visiting my grandparents has become increasingly difficult for me. This weekend I took a trip to North Carolina to visit them. It was my first time seeing the two of them since Christmas Day in 2008. Since the holidays, they have moved from independent senior living housing to more specialized care. I was putting off the visit because I did not want to see what nine months could do.

Currently, my grandparents are cared for in seperate facilities. My grandmother is dealing with dementia while my grandfather is recovering from a recent surgery. They have been married for more than 60 years. After arriving in North Carolina,  I headed to see my grandmother first before her 6pm dinner time. My aunt helped prepare me for the visit by offering encouraging words and love. She knew it would be hard for me to hold back the tears. I tried to be strong and not cry; but I did, and it helped me deal with my emotions. My grandmother didn't notice a tear between the kisses, smiles, laughter, and love. Some days can be worse for patients with dementia but "Gigi" was having a great day. She was calm and seemed so happy to see her oldest grandaughter.

After spending time with Gigi, my aunt and I decided to take her the 2 mile trip to see her husband, my grandfather ("Didi"). As I followed behind in the car, I was unsure how the visit would unfold with my grandfather. Could I bear to see my mentor not his usual self? As we arrived and wheeled Gigi inside his room, the nurse was preparing Didi for a good night's rest. We caught him just before the lights went out. His grunts and facial expressions conveyed the amount of pain he was in. It broke my heart; but when Gigi wheeled to his bedside and he grabbed her hand, I could not help but smile. A symbol of love. A symbol of friendship. A symbol of a marriage that has withstood 60 years. That is what I will remember this Labor Day 2009.

I love you Gigi and Didi. You will always be my heroes....

Travel to Dubai on a Budget

I have received numerous emails from my blog readers asking about my travels to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The top 3 questions I receive:

1. "How can I afford a trip to Dubai?"        

2. "Where did you stay and what did you do in Dubai?              

3. "How much did it cost you to visit the country?"                        

First, let me say that traveling to Dubai is possible on a budget, and I will show you how to spend less when visiting the UAE. I planned and researched everything available to me almost a year before the trip. I know, I hear you saying, "But Dubai is known for glitz and glamour, tall buildings, wealthy tourists and luxury shopping."  I'll be completely honest with you, at times, I wasn't sure how I would afford anything. Traveling in luxury is how I roll, and I wasn't about to budge on anything related to this trip. Our vacation costed us over $10,000 USD.

I will share my thoughts on how to pay less for some things that enjoyed. I will teach you how to experience the big luxuries in Dubai, for cheaper.

The Las Vegas of the Middle East

Dubai: "Las Vegas with no casinos."  Dubai is banking on worldwide luxury tourism, real estate, and its ability to attract commerical companies to stay alive as profits from its oil industry dry up. To accomplish this mission, Dubai is building what it considers, the best of everything. It is a city of extreme excess, surrounded by the tallest buildings and the biggest shopping malls in the world. Upon completion, Dubai will have the longest automated rail system ever built. One cannot forget that Dubai also lies in the middle of the Arabian Desert, which allows travelers to experience its vast playground.

Flights to Dubai

For most, flying to the United Arab Emirates can be the most expensive part of the trip. Flying from the United States is one of the cheaper options. Atlanta has a non-stop flight to Dubai, and has been offered by Delta Airlines for as little as $750-1300 for a round trip coach ticket. For a 7,000 mile international trip from Atlanta, the price cannnot be beat.

Tips for finding a deal on flights:

1. Travel agents have databases such as Worldspan to find seats on sale. The best fares are not available to airline agents. If you find a fare code , give that code to the airline agent. However, these codes do not work with online purchases. Travelocity has a partnership with InterContinental.

2. Always be flexible on your travel dates and travel times if possible and learn price patterns on flights to Dubai.

3. Dubai does not really have an off season but flights tend to be cheaper when it is the hottest in the city. Avoid end of June, July, and August as you might get a cheaper rate but you will be miserable from the heat. March and the beginning of April are great times to visit and still get a reasonable flight fare.

4. If it is worth it to you, use your airline miles to fly even if you only have enough points for one person. There is no reason to hang onto airline points anymore.

Accomodations                                                                              

InterContinental uses the Travelocity booking platform so you will have access to IHG's rates and package deals. There are several IHG options for accomodations. The InterContinental Dubai and Crowne Plaza are both in an area of Dubai called Festival City, and the 4 star Holiday Inn Dubai is located in downtown Dubai. There are six other Holiday Inns further away from the city. The first three listed are newly built, close to the current Dubai International Airport and are excellent luxury properties. Using your Priority Club Points will cost a minimum of 15,000 points per night. One night in the Holiday Inn Dubai Downtown costs approximately $200USD/145 EURO a night, and the InterContinental will set you back $281USD/195EURO. The Holiday Inn Express in Jumeriah (near the beach & the Burj Al Arab hotel) is a minimal $90USD/65EURO. The HIE is an excellent choice when trying to stay on a budget. I stayed at the Burj Al Arab, Al Maha Desert Resort, and the InterContinental Dubai Festival City. The Burj Al Arab ($2,000+/night) and Al Maha ($1,500+/night) hotels were my only paid nights. I used Priority Club points for nights at the InterContinental.  Obviously, using your Priority Club points reduces cost.

Activities/Dining

This is an area that one can save tons of money while in Dubai. Instead of staying at the Burj Al Arab hotel, make a reservation for dinner at one of its restaurants so you gain access to the gated island, explore the lobby, and enjoy photo opportunities in the hotel. Enjoy local cuisuine, or find a familar restaurant brand. Lunch be eaten at McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken (very popular in Dubai), and other cheap eateries. I have made a silly tradition of eating at McDonald's located outside the United States. To save the most money, limit fine dining to one restaurant during your stay. Don't buget more than 100 dollars per day for food.  This will allow you to splurge for fine dining reservations. Avoid spending money on alcohol as you will save tons of money!

Staying at the Al Maha Desert Resort afforded me the opportunity to participate in the popular desert activities as the resort exclusively provides desert activities on site for its guests. Don't let your budget allow you to miss the fun desert activities including camel riding, dune bashing, belly dancing, and falconry.  Arabian Adventures is the best and most popular desert tour operator in Dubai. Reserving a space allows travelers without desert accomodations, to still take part in desert fun. The tour company provides transportation to and from many Dubai hotels. The drive is 45 miles from Dubai's city center and transportation is included.

There are plenty of things to do in the city. Plan a free visit to the Jumeirah Mosque to experience Muslim culture. Take a very cheap ride on the Dubai Creek in an Abra (boat). Transportation on the creek is run by the government. Browse the souks (markets) in Dubai. The Gold Souk is very popular and is located in Deira. Visit the famous malls to buy a few low cost items to bring back home with you. The InterContinental happens to have a huge shopping mall attached to the hotel. Participating in the indoor skiing inside the Mall of Emirates is cheap. Known as Ski Dubai, one can ski indoors for less than $50USD. As any place, Dubai has non wealthy areas, referred to as the slums. Visiting these poor areas of Dubai, will allow you to see a side of Dubai you may thought didn't exist.

Transportation

Taxis in Dubai are economical, and remain the best way to get around. Taxi cab drivers speak English, drive well kept vehicles, and know every location. Taxi cabs are regulated by the government, and are metered. Cabs are air conditioned, clean, and drivers do not take advantage of tourists. A 20-minute ride costs approximately five dollars. Since Dubai's roads and highways are crowded, non locals should not attemp to drive. Organize your activities that are located in the same areas. This will save you time and keep transportation costs lower. 

Is Dubai over the top? Yes. Can you experience many of the same things? Sure you can! Enjoy a taste of the luxuries, cheaper on a trip of a lifetime.

Free: Explore inside & around hotel, visit the Jumeirah Mosque, visit the site of the tallest building in the world, and people watch at the Mall of Emirates. Browsing shopping areas are free too- if you can resist not splurging.

Cheap: Make a dinner reservation to gain access to the Burj Al Arab hotel, the seven star hotel in the shape of a sailboat. Use the regulated taxi transportation system to get around.

Prepare for your trip using my safety planning system in my "What's the worst that can happen?" blog post. And, of course learn my tips on how to travel green.

Links/Rates are subject to expire. I am not affiliated with nor have I been compensated by any company/product named above. I, Amanda Kehoe am not affiliated in any capacity with the above websites or products. The views posted in my blog are not necessarily the views of IHG.

Want more information on Dubai? Contact me with questions: AmandaKehoe@att.net

Many travelers desire to travel in style and luxury. A hotel room with a view of a city, park, or body of water is perfect for me. Often this means paying a little extra for a room on a higher floor or spectacular city view. I find the extra cost 100% worth it. To determine the view, I visit tripadvisor.com to view other traveler's pictures of their stays and room photos. I have stayed in many hotels with a priceless view. It's not always easy to convince who I am traveling with that it is worth the splurge. He will often say, "But we won't be in the hotel the entire day, so why does it matter?" To me, traveling means not just a great room with fabulous amenities and a view; but, the adventures/activities outside the hotel, culture seeking, and the local food. The way a hotel "feels" allows me to relax and truly enjoy all aspects of my trip.

If staying in a room with a view is just not that important or worth the extra splurge, there are many hotels in the InterContinental Group that have views that can be enjoyed by all. For example, some hotels may have a restaurant/bar with a picture perfect skyline view from the lobby, or even a special romantic spot seen from a stroll up to the fifth floor. Even better, some hotels ONLY have that picture perfect view, so there is no bad view to speak of...

If that special room your eyeing is out of budget, try politely requesting a higher floor, or a room with a special view. You might be surprised. It's not just the InterContinental's with the view. Pictured below is a perfect downtown view of Calgary from the ninth floor balcony in a Holiday Inn!

Copyright © 2009 Amanda Kehoe

A fewof my favorite IHG hotels with views: Please feel to add your own!

InterContinental Dubai Festival City: Water & City view

Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City: Water & City view

InterContinental Paris-Le Grand: Opera House views

InterContinental San Francisco USA and Holiday Inn Golden Gateway : Bay & city views

InterContinental Boston USA: Harbor views

InterContinental Sydney: Opera House views

Holiday Inn Express Astoria, Oregon USA: Water view/Riverfront

Holiday Inn Liege Belgium: Water view/Riverfront

Holiday Inn Kunming China: Offers a great view from the top floor restaurant of the city

Holiday Inn Sofia Bulgaria: Mountain views

Holiday Inn Mexico City: City views/ Zocalo

InterContinental Le Moana Bora Bora: Bungalow on the water

Holiday Inn Express Quito, Ecuador: Soundproof windows w/ views of City, Rooftop Gym with Views

InterContinental Tampa USA: Rooftop pool, need I say more?

InterContinental Hanoi, Vietnam: Water View/ Lake with BALCONIES!!!!

This list should help most of you understand how and what to tip when visiting InterContinentals and other hotels in the United States. Always use your best judgment when tipping. Remember, tipping is NEVER required. I am a very generous tipper.

A little insight about me: I email the hotel before my visit with my specific requests: 5 Extra Firm Pillows, My Eco or "Being Green" requests regarding towels & sheets (see my previous blog post), and room temperature request. I tip the person who handles my requests over the phone, email, & in-person a $20 tip.

My list below is for tipping in U.S. See paragraph below for advice on how to tip in other countries. Carry one dollar bills around with you while traveling in America. It makes the tipping process much easier.

Asia and the Pacific: One must insure that a well-meaning gesture is not taken as an insult. If you are unsure, it is best not to tip. If possible, observe the locals and follow their lead. Japan, tipping is insulting

Europe: Many hotels and restaurants add a service charge to the bill. In most cases, an additional tip is unnecessary. If no service charge is added to your bill 10% is the general rule for restaurants, a dollar per bag will be appreciated.

Middle East/Africa: While your tip will not be seen as insulting, it may be unnecessary. Once again, the best bet is to do as the locals do.

Central/South America: Many hotels and restaurants add a service charge to the bill, and an additional tip is unnecessary. If not, 10% is the general rule for restaurant service, and a dollar per bag will be appreciated.

Worldwide tipping guide on magellans.com

http://www.magellans.com/store/article/367?Args=

USA today tip guide for 77 countries:

Here is me outside of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco (taken by the very well tipped Doorman)

Copyright © 2009 Amanda Kehoe