InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, and Goodwill Industries International today announced the establishment of the Goodwill IHG Academy program in the U.S. and Canada that will offer skills development and employment opportunities to those seeking a career in the hospitality industry. Goodwill IHG Academy participants will have access to job services, resources and real-world work experience in IHG-branded hotels that will help increase opportunities for employment.

The IHG Academy program is tailored to meet local job needs around the world through IHG-branded hotels working hand-in-hand with educational and community organizations to fill jobs in hospitality. Goodwill provides job training programs that meet the needs of local employers in high-growth industries, like hospitality, through job services and other community-based programs such as counseling, financial education and résumé preparation. Through the Goodwill IHG Academy program, both organizations are working together to create more sustainable communities.

“We are enthusiastic about working with Goodwill Industries to expand the IHG Academy program in North America and further support economic growth,” said Kirk Kinsell, president, the Americas, IHG. “Being a responsible business is a part of IHG's DNA. We take a long-term view of our business and focus on how we can positively impact our local communities now and in the future.”

Individuals participating in the Goodwill IHG Academy will receive a skills development experience that includes work placement in IHG-branded hotels, performance feedback, and recruitment discussions that will give them opportunities to gain experience with the job interview process. The work placement opportunity will add important mentoring and networking connections for those whose utilize Goodwill’s jobs services.

Kinsell added, “As a leading hotel company, IHG has been a contributor to the travel industry's job creation engine fueling the U.S. economy since the recession. And, we have a need to recruit even more skilled, motivated and talented employees into our workforce, so that we can continue to meet the needs of our guests.”

“Goodwill builds strong communities through job creation,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “Our partnership and collaboration with IHG will enable us to create more sustainable communities by establishing job training and placement opportunities in the field of hospitality.”

Goodwill’s employment training and job placement services benefitted more than six million people in 2012. Job services and other community-based programs are funded and supported through the sales of donated clothes and household items at Goodwill stores and online, as well as through community relationships, like the Goodwill IHG Academy.

“Goodwill has done tremendous work though its community-based programs that help people achieve economic independence,” said Kate Gibson, vice president, Corporate Responsibility – Sustainable Communities, IHG. “Together, we will work to close the skills gap, fill available jobs within IHG-branded hotels and provide a pipeline of talent for the hospitality industry.”

As a leading, global hotel company with the tools to hire and develop world-class talent, IHG-branded hotels employ 350,000 people around the world who bring its broad portfolio of nine hotel brands to life every day. With more than 1,000 hotels in the IHG development pipeline, IHG-branded hotels expect to recruit approximately 90,000 people over the next few years, including 30,000 here in the Americas.

The IHG Academy reinforces IHG’s responsible business commitment to supporting sustainable communities by using a business model that enables collaboration with small to medium-sized enterprises, often local to the hotel location. First launched in China in 2006, the IHG Academy program continues to open the door to economic opportunity through more than 250 programs globally. More 10,000 participants have benefitted from the program to date. IHG recently announced new corporate responsibility targets for 2013-2017, which include expanding the reach and impact of the IHG Academy to provide skills development and improved employability to 20,000 people worldwide.

For more information and to read IHG’s current Corporate Responsibility Report, please go to www.ihg.com/responsibility.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)
[LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organization with a broad portfolio of nine hotel brands, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo® Hotels, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express® Hotels, Staybridge Suites® Hotels, Candlewood Suites® Hotels, EVEN™ Hotels and HUALUXE™ Hotels & Resorts.

IHG manages IHG® Rewards Club, the world’s first and largest hotel loyalty program with over 74 million members worldwide. The program was relaunched in July 2013, offering enhanced benefits for members including free internet for Elites across all hotels, globally.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,600 hotels and 678,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories. With more than 1,000 hotels in its development pipeline, IHG expects IHG-branded hotels to recruit around 90,000 people into additional roles across its estate 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.

Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.ihgrewardsclub.com for more on IHG Rewards Club. For our latest news, visit: www.ihg.com/media, www.twitter.com/ihg, www.facebook.com/ihg or www.youtube.com/ihgplc.

Goodwill Industries International
Goodwill Industries International is a network of 165 community-based agencies in the United States and Canada with affiliates in 13 other countries. Goodwill is one of America’s top 25 most inspiring companies (Forbes). Goodwill agencies are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 2,700 stores and online at shopgoodwill.com®. Local Goodwill agencies also build revenue and create jobs by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food service preparation, and document imaging and shredding. In 2012, more than 6.7 million people in the United States and Canada benefited from Goodwill's career services. Goodwill channels 82 percent of its revenues directly into its programs and services.

To find a Goodwill location near you, use the online locator at www.goodwill.org, or call (800) GOODWILL. Follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl and @GoodwillCapHill, and find us on Facebook: GoodwillIntl.

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Goodwill Industries International is a network of 165 community-based agencies in the United States and Canada with 14 affiliates in 13 other countries. Goodwill is one of North America's top five most valuable and recognized nonprofit brands as well as a leading social services enterprise (Source: Cone Nonprofit Power Brand 100, 2009).

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