Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Continues Its Support in the Fight Against Breast Cancer With Second Annual Pink Out

FORT WORTH, Texas, May 28 /PRNewswire/ -- In a show of support for Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, and to help increase awareness of breast cancer, the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial is hosting its second annual Pink Out celebration.  The tournament is encouraging all fans (guys, you can do it!), officials, caddies and players to wear pink to the tournament on Saturday, May 29.

The tournament's title sponsor Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts will donate $100 for every birdie and $500 for every eagle made by a PGA Tour player during the Saturday round of the tournament.  In 2009, the pros made 325 birdies and five eagles on Saturday, which would equate to a $35,000 donation to Komen for the Cure.  

Additionally, the tournament is asking fans and viewers to show their support by making a donation to Komen via Komen's text to donate program.  Fans can make a $10 donation by texting KOMEN to 90999; the $10 charge will be added to the donor's phone bill.  Message and date rates apply, see mgive.com/a for details.

"Crowne Plaza is proud to be partnering with Colonial and Susan G. Komen for the Cure to support a cause that's so near and dear to the golf community – both players and fans alike," said Gina LaBarre, Vice President of Brand Delivery, Americas, IHG.  "Crowne Plaza and its parent company IHG are committed to giving back, which is why we've incorporated a charitable tie into our Hit It Big summer promotion that benefits Komen for the Cure."

As part of IHG's (InterContinental Hotels Group) Hit It Big promotion, guests that stay at any Crowne Plaza or IHG property between now and Aug. 31, 2010 will earn a $50 bonus starting with the second weekend stay, which can be donated to Komen for the Cure.  Crowne Plaza and IHG will match each donation made by a hotel guest dollar for dollar – a $50 donation becomes $100.  Guests must register for the promotion and must be members of IHG's guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards.  For more information, visit www.CrownePlaza.com/HitItBig.  Full terms and conditions

"Crowne Plaza and the Colonial's support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure through programs like the Pink Out and IHG's Hit It Big promotion gives us an opportunity to reach a larger audience with breast health messages," said Diana Rowden, vice president of survivorship and outcomes at Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  "Our partnership with the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial has helped us to raise funds for community-based breast health programs and research."

Every three minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States.  From the start of the tournament on Pink Out Saturday, until the conclusion of play at approximately 5:30 p.m., 210 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.  As a tribute to these women, 210 pink balloons will be released by breast cancer survivors at the 18th green immediately following play.  

"The Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial created the Pink Out last year on the heels of Amy Mickelson's diagnosis of breast cancer," said Chuck Scherer, Tournament Chairman.  "Our focus Saturday will be on building awareness and support for Susan G. Komen for the Cure at the tournament through Pink Out II.  We're really looking forward to seeing the fan support again this year."  

Additional Pink Out II activities include:

• Rising country star Candy Coburn will perform a free concert in downtown Fort Worth on Friday, May 28 at Sundance Square at 7:30 p.m.  Known for her popular single Pink Warrior, 100% of profits from the song downloaded on iTunes are donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  
• Downtown Fort Worth skyline will be washed in pink the night of Friday, May 28 as a number of the buildings will illuminate pink lighting as a reminder of the Saturday's Pink Out.
• On Saturday at Colonial's 13th hole, fans can dress up in pink props at the Kodak Passionately Pink Photo Booth with proceeds going to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
• PGATOUR.com and the tournament's website (www.CrownePlazaInvitational.com) will change their traditional colors to pink in honor of Saturday's Pink Out.

About Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts

Crowne Plaza was recently recognized by Lodging Hospitality magazine as one of the industry's top-growing brands and travel buyers rated Crowne Plaza as the top upscale/select-service brand in Business Travel News' 2010 U.S. Hotel Chain survey.  As part of the IHG global portfolio, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts has more than 300 hotels in nearly 60 countries, and are located in major urban centers, gateway cities and resort destinations. For reservations at Crowne Plaza properties, visit www.crowneplaza.com or call 1-800-2CROWNE.

Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts participates in IHG's guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards.  The industry's first and largest guest loyalty program has 48 million members.  Priority Club Rewards membership is free and guests can enroll by logging on at priorityclub.com, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of this hotel or any of IHG's nearly 4,400 hotels worldwide. Members benefit from flexible features such as no points expiration, no blackout dates on reward nights and more redemption options than any other hotel loyalty program, including its latest Hotels Anywhere™ and Flights Anywhere™.

For the fourth year, Crowne Plaza is the title sponsor of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, held May 27-30 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. The tournament is the longest running PGA TOUR tournament still being held at the original site.  For more information about the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial golf tournament in May, visit www.crowneplaza.com/invitational.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure®, we have invested nearly $1.5 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

Notes to Editors:

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms.  IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns, through various subsidiaries, over 4,400 hotels and more than 650,000 guest rooms in 100 countries and territories around the world.  The Group owns a portfolio of well recognized and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites® and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards with 48 million members worldwide.

IHG has 1,300 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 160,000 jobs worldwide 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.

IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards program at www.priorityclub.com. For the latest news from IHG, visit our online Press Office at www.ihg.com/media

SOURCE Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts

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