Intercontinental Hotel Group, (IHG) plans the largest new-build Crowne Plaza in the U.S. with 300 deluxe guest rooms and suites. The new build will be located just two miles from Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) and it will be part of a $350 million resort complex, attached to a conference center. The hotel is expected to break ground later this year and open early 2009.

“We are pleased to introduce The Crowne Plaza at Grand Isle Resort to the Baltimore, Maryland area. This hotel will be our largest new-build property in the U.S. We believe its convenient airport location will satisfy both business and leisure travelers,” said Kevin Kowalski, vice president, Brand Management, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, North America. “The property will provide Baltimore guests with industry-leading meetings services and a great night’s sleep through our Sleep Advantage program.”

The Crowne Plaza at Grand Isle Resort is owned by ASHA Companies and managed by American Resort Management, LLC, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.

“We are very excited to develop the largest new-build Crowne Plaza hotel in a booming market such as the Baltimore-Washington area,” said Jay Patel, CEO/CFO, ASHA Companies. “With more than 4,000 rooms in our pipeline we look forward to growing our relationship with Crowne Plaza and IHG in the years to come.”

ASHA Companies, the hotel and resort’s owners, will invest over $ 300 million in constructing the new two tower hotel.