InterContinental Hotels & Resorts celebrates 75th anniversary
Ann Ruppenstein
In celebration of its 75th anniversary, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has unveiled the InterContinental75 commemorative cocktail — a twist on the classic French 75.
The festive drink will be offered at over 130 InterContinental hotels and resorts globally in partnership with Piper-Heidsieck Champagne and The Botanist Islay Dry Gin. A non-alcoholic alternative will also be crafted using Seedlip Distilled non-alcoholic spirit and Fever Tree mixers.
As part of the 75th anniversary initiative and IHG’s Journey to Tomorrow commitment, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts will also donate US$75,000 to Water.org, supporting 15,000 people to gain access to clean water through sustainable, locally owned and run projects.
“During a challenging period, it’s important to take time to celebrate milestones and begin to enjoy new adventures again wherever we can. The InterContinental brand has been part of many special moments throughout its storied 75-year history and continues to be a place for celebration, connection and indulgence,” says Jane Mackie, IHG’s Senior Vice President, Global Marketing for Luxury and Premium Brands. “The next chapter of InterContinental, as we continue to open new doors from Rome to Riyadh, will encompass a fresh 360 degree approach to the guest experience with new partnerships and innovations.”
First established in 1946, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts shows no signs of slowing down with multiple properties opening in the next year. Here’s a look at what’s in store plus details on how to make a InterContinental75 at home.
InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort & Spa is opening soon in Ras Al Khaimah, the U.A.E.’s northernmost Emirate, with a health club, spa, two swimming pools and several highly curated selection of dining experiences. Covering an area of 43,770 sqm, the resort is a short drive from Dhayah Fort and Sheba’s Palace. Stretching across two peninsulas and a private beach, the 351-room resort features an exclusive collection of rooms, suites, club building and villas with guaranteed sea views. Every room suite villa has access to a spacious balcony or terrace with day beds.
Another soon to open property, InterContinental Grand Ho Tram will offer 543 rooms, an array of restaurants and bars, as well as a state-of-the-art convention centre that can accommodate up to 1,100 people in its expansive ballroom and five meeting rooms. The resort includes outdoor pools for both adults and kids, a gym, spa, a multitude of retail stores and direct access to Vietnam’s top golf course, The Bluffs, designed by storied golf professional Greg Norman.
Located at the heart of Asia’s New Bay Area along the Zhonghua and Xinguang Road, with stunning views of Kaohsiung Harbor in the south west of Taiwan, InterContinental Kaohsiung features 253 luxurious guest rooms and suites. The hotel is conveniently located between the Kaohsiung International Airport and Kaohsiung Main Station, close to the Sanduo Shopping District, Kaohsiung Exhibition Center and the famous 85 Sky-Tower.
Set to open in January, InterContinental Chongli is conveniently located alongside Chongli Taizicheng Railway terminal and features 190 luxury guest rooms and suites with panoramic views of Chongli Taizicheng Snow Town and significant meetings and events facilities. The hotel will open ahead of the city hosting the Winter Olympics, currently scheduled for February 2022. The hotel itself is close to Chongli Exhibition and conference center, and moments away from Chongli Snow Town shopping and restaurant areas.
InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace is set to open in late spring 2022 on the iconic Via Veneto in the Ludovisi area of the city close to the Villa Borghese. The existing property will be restored to create a sense of discreet, modern luxury for visitors and locals alike with 160 rooms and suites, a panoramic rooftop, restaurant, bar, and a spa. Designed in the early 1900s by architect Carlo Busiri Vici in the neo-renaissance style, the palazzo building was originally home to ambassadors staying in Rome. It later became the US Embassy’s library before opening as a hotel in 1993.
InterContinental Hangzhou Liangzhu is conveniently located along Yuniao Street with luxury amenities. The hotel is close to Liangzhu Digital Culture Park, the Aeon Mall and Liangzhu Culture Museum and Village, which houses a collection of local archaeological treasures, known as the Jade culture from around 3000 BC. The hotel features a host of luxury guest rooms and suites options and panoramic views of the city.
InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula (formerly Hotel Continental) will have a new, luxurious lease on life when it opens in March 2022. The property is posed to become a beacon of glamour and sophistication on the Mornington Peninsula, just outside of Melbourne in Victoria. InterContinental Sorrento will occupy the accommodation component of the 145-year-old heritage-listed limestone building and will feature 108 beautifully appointed, spacious guest rooms, many of them with water views.
Make your own InterContinental75 commemorative cocktail at home
Though the exact time of creation is debated (sources argue the origin is at the New York Bar in Paris in 1915 or a decade later at the height of Prohibition), the drinking of a French 75 cocktail has historically marked the celebration of major milestones. In honour of the InterContinental 75th anniversary and looking forward to the future of travel, hotels will feature a modern twist on this classic cocktail.
The InterContinental75 is a refreshing and delightfully botanical cocktail with a hint of honey and notes of citrus and herbal aromatics. The cocktail is mixed using The Botanist Islay Dry Gin, Piper-Heidsieck NV brut champagne, lemon juice and honey water.
At the ready:
- 60 ml (2 oz) The Botanist Islay Dry Gin
- 90 ml (3 oz) Piper-Heidsieck Brut Cuvee NV Champagne
- 7.5 (.25 oz) lemon juice
- 15 (.5) honey syrup
- Dehydrated lemons, for garnish
How to prepare:
- Combine gin, lemon juice and honey in cocktail shaker
- Add ice to cocktail shaker, filling approximately 3/4 full
- Put top on cocktail shaker and shake vigorously until chilled — approximately 15 seconds.
- Strain liquid into champagne flute and top with champagne.
- Garnish by placing dehydrated lemon on the edge of the glass. Enjoy!
