The Russian Federation's first Crowne Plaza hotel is set to open in early 2007, after the outstanding agreements were signed at InterContinental Hotel Group's global headquarters in Windsor yesterday. Initial agreements were concluded with World Trade Centre Moscow in December last year.

The hotel, originally built in 1980 for the Olympics, will now undergo extensive renovation to bring it up to Crowne Plaza standards. It will offer both business and leisure guests superior facilities and an excellent guest experience synonymous with the Crowne Plaza brand.

The 572 room Crowne Plaza Moscow – World Trade Centre is situated in the heart of Moscow and is part of the World Trade Centre building. It will have extensive amenities on its doorstep including substantial meeting facilities, parking, as well as a shopping mall with restaurants and bars.

The amenities within the hotel will complement these and will feature five restaurants and three bars including a cocktail bar. There will also be a fitness centre complete with pool, sauna, steam and treatment rooms.

Andrew Cosslett, Chief Executive of InterContinental Hotels Group commented: "This project represents a unique opportunity to establish the Crowne Plaza brand in the Russian capital. Russia is a strategic market for IHG; the strength of the Russian economy and increasing opportunities in this region have attracted hotel investors and operators, and raised the demand for international hotel brands such as Crowne Plaza."

IHG's Holiday Inn brand is already established in Moscow with three hotels in the city providing 767 rooms. This includes a 312 room Holiday Inn Moscow-Suschevsky hotel which opened at the beginning of March.

With the addition of the Crowne Plaza Moscow – World Trade Centre and the 516 room Holiday Inn Moscow-Sokolniki opening in late 2006, IHG hotels will then deliver 35% of the total international branded rooms in Moscow.