88% Of Golfers Get Seven Hours Or More Of Sleep A Night, Showing Better Sleep Equals More Drive

ATLANTA, May 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Crowne Plaza^® Hotels & Resorts brand today revealed the results of its first-ever Sleep Advantage^® Survey, uncovering the sleeping habits of PGA TOUR golfers during tournament weeks. Leading up to the 2013 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, the upscale hotel brand partnered with the PGA TOUR to survey 285 members of the golf community, from professional golfers including Rickie Fowler, Richard Lee, Charley Hoffman, Jonas Blixt and Brendan Steele, to caddies and PGA TOUR staffers.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130521/CL17979-INFO )

The Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage Survey found that 94 percent of golfers, and more than a quarter of all survey participants, spend more than 60 nights a year in a hotel for business. On average, those surveyed get nearly seven hours of sleep per night during tournament weeks, with hotel amenities such as comfortable pillows (90 percent) and a room in a quiet area (79 percent) very important to ensure a good night's sleep.

"From comfortable bedding and designated quiet zones to aromatherapy kits, our Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage program is designed to help ensure guests have a successful and well-rested stay," said Gina LaBarre, vice president, Americas Brand Management, Upscale Brands, IHG. "As with any business traveler, your quality of sleep is an important driver of your job performance – on the golf course or in the meeting room."

The Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage Survey also revealed that members of the golf community typically hit the pillow around 10:30 p.m. The assurance of a wake-up call, another guarantee from the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage program, was a priority for 53 percent, with the average wake-up time being 6:06 a.m. on a tournament day.

Fowler, who is continuing his partnership with the Crowne Plaza brand for a second year, is no different from a typical business traveler when it comes to what he needs to get a good night's sleep before his tee time. "For me, getting eight hours of sleep is one of my top priorities during a tournament," said Fowler. "I like knowing that I can depend on the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage amenities, leaving me to concentrate on my game."

IHG, the parent company of the Crowne Plaza brand, is the Official Hotel and Resort Partner of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Web.com Tour. The 2013 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial will be held May 20-26 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. An interactive welcome wall at the tournament will ask fans to share how many hours of sleep they get a night. The Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial is the longest running PGA TOUR tournament still being held at the original site. Visit www.crowneplaza.com/golf and www.crowneplaza.com/sleepadvantage for more information.

About the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage Survey
The findings in this study are based on an Internet and pencil and paper survey of 285 PGA TOUR members including professional golfers, caddies and tournament staffers conducted by Research+Data Insights. Interviews were conducted between April 12 and May 6, 2013.

About Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts
Part of the IHG global portfolio, the Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts brand is a dynamic upscale hotel brand located in nearly 65 countries around the world in major urban centers, gateway cities and resort destinations. As the fourth largest upscale full-service hotel brand in the world and one of the fastest growing, the Crowne Plaza brand has a solid foundation for future growth. The portfolio has doubled since 2003 to nearly 400 hotels, and the global pipeline has increased fourfold to nearly 100 hotels. At Crowne Plaza hotels, we help our guests feel energized and productive, with 24-hour business services, wireless high speed Internet access in the lobby, and fitness and leisure facilities. Our Sleep Advantage® program ensures our guests get a great night's sleep to power through their day. For reservations at Crowne Plaza properties, visit www.crowneplaza.com or call 1-800-2CROWNE. Connect with us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/crowneplaza or Facebook: www.Facebook.com/crowneplaza.

About IHG
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organization with nine hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites®, EVEN™ Hotels and HUALUXE™ Hotels & Resorts. IHG also manages Priority Club® Rewards, the world's first and largest hotel loyalty program with over 73 million members worldwide. The program will be renamed and relaunched as IHG® Rewards Club in July 2013, offering enhanced benefits for members.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,600 hotels and more than 674,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories. With more than 1,000 hotels in its development pipeline, IHG expects to recruit around 90,000 people into additional roles across its estate over the next few years.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.priorityclub.com for more on Priority Club Rewards. For our latest news, visit www.ihg.com/media, www.twitter.com/ihg, www.facebook.com/ihg or www.youtube.com/ihgplc.

SOURCE Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts