Staybridge Suites, Rochester, MNWins IHG 2008 TORCHBEARER AWARD

ATLANTA (September 24, 2008) – The Staybridge Suites, Rochester, MN] has received the IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) 2008 Torchbearer Award, the company's most prestigious award.  IHG is the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms.  

The Torchbearer Awards were presented at a special ceremony during the 2008 IHG Americas Investors & Leadership Conference in Los Angeles, California, September 24-26, 2008.   Charmayne Cochran, General Manger of the Staybridge Suites, Rochester, MN accepted the award.

The Staybridge Suites, Rochester, MN is one of only 53 properties chosen from the IHG system of more than 3,800 hotels for achieving the highest levels of excellence in all aspects of operation -- from quality to customer satisfaction.  A 2008 Torchbearer trophy, the company's symbol of excellence, will be on permanent display at the hotel.

"It is my pleasure to name the Staybridge Suites, Rochester, MN as one of the finest hotels in our industry," said Richard Solomons, Interim President, the Americas, IHG.  "This hotel embodies the spirit, product and service that continue to make our properties known and admired throughout the world."

More than 4,000 franchise owners, operators and company officials attended the 2008 IHG Americas Investors & Leadership Conference.

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