The Astor Crowne Plaza Takes the Number One Spot in the Crowne Plaza Collection Once Again

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THE  ASTOR CROWNE PLAZA TAKES THE NUMBER ONE SPOT IN THE CROWNE PLAZA COLLECTION ONCE AGAIN
New Orleans hotel continues to receive industry accolades

NEW ORLEANS, LA, October 20, 2011 - Meeting Planners across the country recently ranked The Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel 1st out of over 150 Crowne Plaza hotels in a recent survey conducted by Intercontinental Hotels Group this year.   

In surveys completed by the hotel's meeting planners, the Astor Crowne Plaza received exemplary scores for outstanding service for meeting excellence.

"We continue to strive to exceed our clients' expectations and our efforts are reflected in their reviews.  Anticipating the meeting planner's needs is what sets us apart," said Don Zimmer, Director of Marketing.  "We believe the success of our meetings staff is due to their passion to live the Crowne Plaza brand standards which emphasize "excellence in service".  At the Astor, all of our convention professionals are CMP certified which becomes a great asset for planners in their day-to-day planning process with the hotel."

According to recent meeting organizer, Colonel Terence W. Singleton, United States Army, 80th Training Command (TASS)

"Rest assured The Astor will receive the highest remarks possible for the outstanding support and customer service that we received during our conference. The outstanding staff of the Astor Crowne Plaza, coupled with their ‘can do' spirit/attitude, made our experience most enjoyable and added to the success of our workshop. Again, we are truly grateful." -

There are many reasons the Astor Crowne Plaza is "The Place To Meet" in New Orleans. In addition to many services geared specifically to the Meeting Planners needs such as the 2-Hour Response Guarantee, and the assignment of a Crowne Meetings Director, The Daily Debrief, a meetings hallmark of Crowne Plaza, allows the planner to review the current day with the hotel's meeting professionals and prepare for the next. This daily meeting is also a valuable budgeting tool for the planner.  The ranking by Meeting Planners is due in part to the recent completion of the Astor's extensive $11 million renovation which won the Top IHG Award for Best in Renovation, and the team's efforts to exemplify true "Southern Hospitality."

The Astor Crowne Plaza is part of the collection of InterContinental Hotels Group PLC and managed by Hospitality Management Corporation.

About InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG)
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) is one of the world's largest hotel groups by number of rooms.  IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 3,800 hotels and more than 571,000 guestrooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world.  IHG owns a portfolio of well recognized and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites® and Hotel Indigo®, and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty program, Priority Club Rewards.

About Hospitality Management Corporation
Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC), founded in 1971, is a privately owned independent management company, and is one of the oldest independent hotel management firms in the lodging industry.  For over three decades, HMC has provided hotel management services for third party institutional and private owners.  The company's headquarters has been located in Dallas, Texas since its inception. For more information on HMC, please visit our website at http://www.hospitalitymgt.com/

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