IHG is the only hotel company in the Top 10, ranking #5 across all industries.

IHG has garnered the #1 ranking among all hotel companies in the 2009 Entrepreneur Magazine's 30th Annual Franchise 500® in the Hotel & Motel Category.  IHG has held the top spot in the category since 2005. 

"From a business standpoint, IHG excels with franchisees because of its strong brands, reservation system, field operations staff and its Priority Club Rewards program that is instrumental in driving new and repeat business to my hotels," said Mike Monchino, owner and operator of various hotel brands including Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.

Entrepreneur Magazine is a U.S.-based business publication that focuses on business owners and provides information that helps them operate their businesses.  The Franchise 500 list is in its 30th year and measures the financial strength, stability, growth rate and size of the system of franchise companies. These factors are entered into the publication's exclusive Franchise 500 formula, rating each company with the highest scores.  The publication's website is located at: www.entrepreneur.com

In addition, IHG also ranked fifth across all industries, joining Subway, McDonald's, Liberty Tax Service, Sonic Drive In Restaurants, Ace Hardware Corp., Pizza Hut, The UPS Store/Mail Boxes Etc., Circle K, and Papa John's Int'l Inc., in the Top 10 of the Franchise 500 rankings.  Each year since 2005, IHG has been in the Franchise 500, ranking 31st or higher.

"Our ranking by Entrepreneur Magazine is a strong proof point that we are a tremendous value for franchisees who sign with one of our seven brands - InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites," said Jim Anhut, chief development officer, North America, IHG.  "We take great pride in the collaborative relationship we have with our franchisees at more than 4,100 hotels globally and the hard work put forth on their behalf every day by our team at IHG."

Also as part of the rankings, Entrepreneur Magazine ranked IHG 22nd among the Fastest-Growing Franchises across all industries.