ATLANTA—IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has formed a new relationship between its Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands and Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (Keurig). The announcement was made at IHG’s 2015 Americas Owners Conference in San Francisco.
As part of this new relationship, beginning in 2016, all Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels in the U.S. will introduce a new in-room coffee experience featuring Keurig K130 brewers and select Keurig K-Cup coffee products. Heather Balsley, SVP, Americas brand management, IHG said, “We know that a great coffee experience is tremendously important to our guests at both Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels.”
She added, “Last year, Holiday Inn Express hotels introduced our new Smart Roast coffee on the Express Start breakfast bar, which has had a positive impact on guest experience. This year, through this new relationship with Keurig, we are taking the next step and providing a high-quality solution for our in-room coffee offering at both Holiday Inn Express and Holiday Inn hotels. This new standard is expected to enhance our guests’ experience through the delivery of a great cup of coffee, and will drive operational efficiencies and brand perception, which are both important to our owners.”
IHG completed guest research, which found that the overwhelming majority of target guests knew of and had used a Keurig brewer. With the Keurig single cup brewing system, guests can brew a single cup at the touch of a button. Additionally, each Keurig K-Cup pod is complete with a filter and fresh ground coffee sealed inside to preserve freshness.
Bob Murphy, SVP and general manager of the Keurig Away From Home business unit, said, “We are pleased the Keurig K130 brewer has been selected by IHG to be the brand standard at its Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties in the U.S. These brands are well known for providing high-quality accommodations and a broad array of amenities to their guests. Our research shows, of preferred hotel amenities, in-room coffee is second only to wireless Internet, and we believe the in-room Keurig brewing system is the ideal complement to any guest’s stay.”
The new coffee offering will roll out to guestrooms at all Holiday Inn Express hotels in the U.S. in Q1 2016, and the solution will be introduced at Holiday Inn hotels beginning in Q3 2016.