LONDON, May 8 /PRNewswire/ -- InterContinental Hotels Group, the world's largest hotel operator by number of rooms - more than 580,000 in almost 4,000 hotels worldwide - and Venere.com - the EU online accommodation specialist, providing more than 26.000 properties across Europe and beyond - today announced a global distribution agreement via XML interface.

This agreement will allow Venere.com to connect to IHG's portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental(R), Crowne Plaza(R), Holiday Inn(R), Holiday Inn Express(R), Staybridge Suites(R), Candlewood Suites(R) and Hotel Indigo(R).

All IHG hotels - starting from USA, Japan, Australia and UK - will be available via an already well developed and dedicated XML interface. The technology also makes it more efficient and cost-effective for hotels to manage inventory and rates for Venere.com through IHG's central reservations system.

"By interfacing with huge brands such as IHG, Venere.com is able to further increase its great selection of high quality hotels, offered to its current 100 million users per year. We are extremely pleased to have IHG as a key partner and look forward to a great relationship", explains Marco Ficarra, CEO at Venere.com.

"We are very pleased to welcome Venere.com as one of our online distribution partners so that our customers will have complete access to all available rooms at our hotels worldwide. Venere.com will deliver value to IHG by helping us to effectively market our properties in respect of Venere.com's high traffic generation globally", affirms Majse Blackburn, Director Business Development & Hotel Integration EMEA at IHG.

About Venere.com

Founded in 1995, Venere.com is the largest independent accommodation marketplace in Europe.

Private equity fund Advent International obtained a majority stake in Venere Net S.p.A by acquiring 60% of the company shares in late 2006.

With more than 26.000 properties and 450.000 hotels reviews online, Venere.com has been experiencing spectacular growth that have taken it to the leading position of the industry.

About Intercontinental Hotel Group

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC of the United Kingdom is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms.

IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, almost 4.000 hotels and more than 585,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world.

The Group owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental(R), Crowne Plaza(R), Holiday Inn(R), Holiday Inn Express(R), Staybridge Suites(R), Candlewood Suites(R) and Hotel Indigo(R).

Micaela Zanarini - zanarini@venere.com - Tel. +39-06-361921

http://www.venere.com

Micaela Zanarini - zanarini@venere.com - Tel. +39-06-361921