InterContinental Hotels Group has today announced the first European Holiday Inn Hotels to open as part of its US$1 billion global brand relaunch.

The relaunch aims to revitalise the Holiday Inn brand to create a more contemporary brand image.

Features of the new style hotels include new signage, redesigned entrance areas, upgraded guest rooms and new service standards.

Eleven Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as well as 19 in the US and six across the Asia Pacific will showcase the new-look brand to gather owner and guest feedback.

The company says the global roll-out, which will include over 4000 hotels, is expected to be completed by 2010.