Sense of a City: InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts reveals multi-sensory experiences in seven cities around the world that have been voted InterContinental ICons 2020

• The curated selection was voted for by the public then ranked by leading travel experts including National Geographic photographer Charlie Hamilton James
• The InterContinental ICons 2020 will inspire bookable experiences at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts allowing travellers to rediscover their favourite destinations in new and unexpected ways

DUBAI, UAE: InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest luxury hotel brand, today reveals the most iconic sights, sounds, tastes, smells and sensations that travellers should experience in 2020 if they want to really get to know the city they are visiting. The first ever InterContinental ICons range from the smell of fresh bagels at a West Village shop in New York and the unique flavours of Karak Chai in Jumeirah Beach in Dubai, to enjoying the sight of contrasting old and new architecture in London.

The list of experiences was determined through an online public vote and then ranked by a panel of worldly influencers and leading travel experts as the best additions to conventional tourist destinations. The InterContinental ICons will also inspire curated experiences that can be booked at some of the leading InterContinental Hotels and Resorts across the world.

Top InterContinental ICons in each city:

Paris – Smell of oven-fresh bread from the boulangeries of Oberkampf

London – The contrast of old and new architecture on the ever-changing London skyline

New York – Fresh bagels at a West Village bagel shop

Dubai – Tasting the many unique flavours of Karak Chai along Jumeirah Beach Road

Sydney – The cool breeze on your face as you ride the Manly to Circular Quay ferry

Mexico City – The smoky flavour of tacos al pastor

Shanghai – The sound of old songs played on a vinyl record player

The campaign was developed based on insight from an independent study by the brand. The research revealed that most locals (59%) feel visitors are missing out on the true spirit of a place, while 75% of luxury travellers want to experience cities like a well-informed local.

Jane Mackie, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing, IHG Luxury Portfolio comments: “True to the InterContinental brand’s heritage of pioneering luxury travel, we’ve spent the last few months working with leading experts and canvassing public opinion to uncover truly fascinating and meaningful details that showcase the best of global cities around the world. We are excited to reveal the first ever list of InterContinental ICons as well as curated itineraries to inspire travellers to go deeper.”

Charlie Hamilton James, Photographer, National Geographic and member of the judging panel comments: “I loved working on the InterContinental ICons campaign – it opened my eyes to the many undiscovered facets that I’d been missing in each of these well-visited cities. Each one holds an infinite number of secrets and experiencing the ICons is just the way to start uncovering them.”

Haifa Beseisso, Travel blogger said: “I was born in Dubai and I’ve always loved the mix of culture and amazing things to do. There’s always something new to discover. It’s a rich city that makes you dream; like seeing the skyscrapers from the desert is a constant reminder that nothing is impossible here. Helping to find the InterContinental ICons of Dubai has helped me appreciate all the things that make this city truly special and I can’t wait for people to come and experience it for themselves.”

Discover the InterContinental ICons in Dubai:

• Tasting the unique flavours of Karak Chai along Jumeirah Beach Road ​​
• The enchanting smell of burning bukhoor, transporting you back in time​​
• Sound of water lapping an Abra as it glides along Dubai Creek ​​
• The crackle of a campfire breaking the silence on a night-time desert escape​
• The fascinating contrast of old and new under the glow of a warm Dubai sunset

Voted by the public and selected with careful consideration from a panel of judges including travel blogger & online influencer Haifa Beseisso, Dubai Tourism’s Aida AlBusaidy and IHG Les Clefs d'Or Concierge, the ICons represent the true essence of Dubai.

Those visiting Dubai will rediscover the city through distinctive experiences at both InterContinental Dubai Festival City and InterContinental Dubai Marina. The new hotel programming will endeavour to entice guests to discover the true culture of the city, celebrating authentic places and moments that might be overlooked by visitors but are truly part of what makes Dubai special. The experiences will intersect the old and new of Dubai, taking guests on a sensory journey with activities like a bespoke Arabic bukhoor session with an InterContinental expert or a unique tea-tasting experience at a masterclass in the heart of Dubai Marina.

For more details on InterContinental ICons, visit life.intercontinental.com/icons. 

-Ends-

RESOURCES:

Images, video, infographic, global and London specific statistics & spokespeople available on request

CONTACTS:
Anne-Lise Berthon
Senior Manager Brand PR
IHG Hotels & Resorts
annelise.berthon@ihg.com
Kaitlin Marrin
Senior Account Manager
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
Kaitlin.marrin@hkstrategies.com

About InterContinental ICons:

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has pioneered luxury travel for more than 70 years and now has 212 hotels with 65 more due to open over the next three to five years. With this heritage and insight, the brand understands that modern luxury travellers are looking for a deeper connection with the iconic places they travel to. InterContinental ICons was developed to enable travellers to dive below the surface of “check-box” itineraries to really get to know the cities and destinations they visit. Starting with a global study and social media analysis, InterContinental invited the public to suggest different experiences that give a true sense of a city. IHG representatives and experts then deliberated on the shortlist to identify the top 5 InterContinental ICons in well-visited cities around the world that embodied the true character of the destination. Join conversations around the InterContinental ICons on social media using the hashtag #intercontinentalicons.  

About InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts:

The InterContinental^® Hotels & Resorts brand makes travel alluring, with insights from more than 70 years of experience pioneering luxury travel. Each of our properties provides a gateway to the glamour of the InterContinental Life. As a brand, we aim to embody global sophistication through our superior, understated service and exceptional amenities. What makes us truly different is the genuine interest we show our guests through personalised and attentive services. We offer our most valued guests signature VIP services through a dedicated InterContinental^® Ambassador programme and an exclusive Club InterContinental^® experience. We connect our well-travelled guests to what’s special about a destination, so they enjoy authentic local experiences that will enrich their lives. For more information and to book, visit www.intercontinental.com, and connect with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/intercontinental and Instagram www.instagram.com/intercontinental. 

About IHG:

IHG^® (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental^® Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton^® Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo^®, EVEN^® Hotels, HUALUXE^® Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza^® Hotels & Resorts, voco™, Holiday Inn^® Hotels & Resorts , Holiday Inn Express^®, Holiday Inn Club Vacations^®, avid™ hotels, Staybridge Suites^®, Atwell Suites™, and Candlewood Suites^®.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns more than 5,900 hotels and approximately 884,000 guest rooms in more than 100 countries, with over 1,900 hotels in its development pipeline. IHG also manages IHG^® Rewards Club, our global loyalty programme, which has more than 100 million enrolled members.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales. More than 400,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally.

Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.ihgrewardsclub.com  for more on IHG Rewards Club. For our latest news, visit: https://www.ihgplc.com/en/news-and-media  and follow us on social media at: https://twitter.com/ihgcorporate , www.facebook.com/ihgcorporate  and www.linkedin.com/company/intercontinental-hotels-group. 

APPENDIX:

Full list of InterContinental ICons

New York

• Fresh bagels at a West Village bagel shop
• Sipping craft cocktails in a bar in an up-and-coming neighbourhood in Brooklyn
• The sharp blue sky against the striking architecture of the city skyline seen from the Hudson River Ferry
• Soaking up the sunshine on a lunchtime picnic in Central Park
• The astonishing luminosity as you stand on the concourse of the Oculus

Mexico

• The smoky flavour of tacos al pastor
• The scent of mezcal just before taking the first sip
• The surprising downtown museums, like the Palacio de Bellas Artes with its Diego Rivera paintings
• The contrast of buildings in Zocala, from the plaza and National Palace to the Templo Mayor ruins
• The view of Paseo de la Reforma in the early morning

Paris

• Smell of oven-fresh bread from the boulangeries of Oberkampf
• The tickles of the blades of grass during a springtime picnic in the Buttes Chaumont
• Sounds of laughter and glasses tinkling at apero hour on the terraces in Bastille
• The washing sound of boats as your stroll along Seine near the haven of Ile Saint-Louis
• Filling your basket with organic cheeses and prunes from the organic market in Les Batignolles

London

• The contrast of old and new architecture on the ever-changing London skyline
• A Sunday roast enjoyed by the fireside in an historic, hidden London pub
• Hearing the market traders and watching the eclectic mix of people on Portobello Road on a Friday morning
• Spotting the stags emerge in Richmond Park on a misty, autumn morning
• The thrill of seeing the twinkling lights of the capital as you cross the Thames in a cab at night

Dubai

• Tasting the many unique flavours of Karak Chai along Jumeirah Beach Road ​
• The enchanting smell of burning bukhoor, transporting you back in time​
• Sound of water lapping an Abra as it glides along Dubai Creek ​
• The crackle of a campfire breaking the silence on a night-time desert escape
• The fascinating contrast of old and new under the glow of a warm Dubai sunset

Sydney

• The cool breeze on your face as you ride the Manly to Circular Quay ferry
• The Sydney skyline viewed from a rooftop in Five Ways Paddington
• The smell of sunblock and a barbeque cooking up on the North Bondi grassy knoll
• Fish and chips enjoyed barefoot at Kutti Beach
• The sun on your shoulders on the Hermitage Foreshore walk while you soak up the best views over Sydney Harbour

Shanghai

• The intersection of Suzhou Creek and Huangpu River at Waibaidu Bridge
• The melodious bells of the clock tower on the Bund
• The warm aroma of Xiaolongbao at the Temple of the City Gods
• Brightly lit Lujiazui Financial Centre
• Old songs played on a vinyl record player

© Press Release 2020