[img:Torchbearer_12-100-0192.jpg]ATLANTA, GA – The Crowne Plaza Resort & Golf Club, Lake Placid, NY received the IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) 2012 Torchbearer Award, the company's most prestigious award. The Torchbearer Award was presented during the 2012 IHG Americas Investors & Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida, Oct. 24–26, 2012.

The Crowne Plaza Resort & Golf Club, Lake Placid is one of only 102 properties within the Americas chosen from the IHG system of more than 4,500 hotels for achieving the highest levels of excellence in all aspects of operation -- from quality to customer satisfaction. A 2012 Torchbearer trophy, the company's symbol of excellence, will be on permanent display at the hotel.

"It is my pleasure to name the Crowne Plaza Resort & Golf Club, Lake Placid as one of the top-notch hotels in our industry," said Kirk Kinsell, President, the Americas, IHG. "This resort hotel embodies the heart of our brand promise and continues to make IHG properties known and admired throughout the world, continuing our mission to deliver Great Hotels Guests Love."

"Our team members' dedication and commitment to providing superior guest experiences time and time again is why we received this award, said Ray Damp, General Manager, Crowne Plaza Resort & Golf Club, Lake Placid. "A heartfelt 'thank you' goes out to our entire team."

Nearly 5,000 franchise owners, operators and company officials attended the 2012 IHG Americas Investors & Leadership Conference.

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IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global company operating seven 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® . IHG also manages Priority Club® Rewards, the world's first and largest hotel loyalty programme with almost 60 million members worldwide.

IHG is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms and franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,400 hotels and more than 656,000 guest rooms in 100 countries and territories, and has more than 1,100 hotels in its development pipeline.

PHOTO: (L-R) Scott Burslem, guest services manager; Arthur and Caroline Lussi, co-owners; Ray Damp, general manager.