IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) announced that the company’s first LEED-certified hotel in Canada hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on May 26, 2009, in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. The Holiday Inn Express and Suites Saint-Hyacinthe is the first hotel in Quebec built to meet the criteria of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System for its sustainable practices.

The Holiday Inn Express and Suites Saint-Hyacinthe features several key amenities that create a green environment, including a diligent recycling system, hybrid parking lots and showers for employees who cycle to work. Located 30 minutes away from Montreal, the 94-room hotel will be a part of the new ‘M’ Lifestyle Centre in Saint-Hyacinthe. The Lifestyle Centre is designed to be the shopping destination for the entire surrounding region and will include restaurants, shopping, a public market, houses and apartments. The first stage of the Lifestyle Centre is slated to open in late 2009, with additions being incorporated over the next five years. The hotel will be easily accessible to visitors from any direction using Highway 20 and a short drive to tourist attractions such as the Congress Centre and various festivals.

The new-build property will also showcase the Holiday Inn Express brand’s new sign, which is the seal of approval that this hotel exemplifies the standards of the $1 billion Holiday Inn brand relaunch programme.  First announced in 2007, the relaunch programme was established to create a more contemporary brand image as part of the drive to increase quality and consistency across the global portfolio. The program focuses on arrival and welcome services, guestroom, and guest bath comfort. The global estate of more than 3,200 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties is expected to be relaunched by the end of 2010.

“We are very excited that the first LEED-certified hotel in Quebec will be a Holiday Inn Express, opening with our new sign,” said John Merkin, senior vice president, Brand Management, Holiday Inn Brands, The Americas. “This property is a reflection of the Holiday Inn Express focus on providing a smart choice for value-conscious business and leisure travellers. With more than 1,900 properties worldwide and nearly 700 properties in the pipeline, the Holiday Inn Express portfolio continues to expand destinations like Quebec, providing our guests with an enhanced stay experience at a great value.”