InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) today announces the launch of the first global children's hotel menu designed by a child food expert and an award winning chef. The menu, which launches at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in early 2014, promises to take children through an exciting journey of food discovery.
Designed specifically for the young InterContinental guest, the menu has been jointly developed by award winning celebrity chef Theo Randall and leading children's food expert and best-selling international author, Annabel Karmel MBE. The menu will feature delicious dishes which embrace flavours, textures, smells and tastes that will take children on an educational voyage around the world while ensuring an enjoyable and nutritionally balanced meal.
Annabel Karmel MBE said: "Children are naturally inquisitive, and grown-ups are often surprised by the flavours they enjoy. Sometimes it takes a little encouragement, and a holiday with the family can be a great opportunity to explore new and exciting foods.
"Working with Theo, we've created a menu filled with diverse flavours and tastes whilst offering the nutritional balance InterContinental travellers with young families are looking for."
Annabel is best known for her innovative recipes that embody her passion for giving children the very best start in life by inspiring families to cook nutritious, delicious meals that taste great. Few people also know that Annabel started working life as a musician and one of her early jobs was playing the harp at the InterContinental London Park Lane. Theo, on the other hand, is internationally renowned for creating simple, authentic dishes using the best and freshest ingredients.
"My cooking philosophy is greatly influenced by my parents' love for good food," said Theo Randall, Chef Patron of Theo Randall at the InterContinental. "Growing up, a memorable family holiday was always one with great food experiences. I've found that I learn quickest about different cultures and cities through the flavours of cuisines at each destination I visit and this is something I hope to bring to life for the children who visit InterContinental restaurants around the globe."
With properties in more than 60 countries and 170 hotels, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is dedicated to providing diverse, enriching experiences that are rich with local insight. The new children's menu is set to excite the junior palate through a variety of classic favourites and truly international delights that reflect the breadth of countries the luxury hotel brand is located in.
As part of the menu's development, Annabel and Theo conducted a test and learn tasting session with young guests in October. The dishes trialled proved a big hit and provided the culinary duo with additional insight into the dishes they will roll out as part of the final menu.
Simon Scoot, Vice President Global Brands, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and IHG Global Resorts said: "A great dining experience is something our guests expect when staying with us – and we're dedicated to innovating and delivering this across all our brands at IHG. For InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in particular, we understand our guests' desire to give their children the best opportunities to learn about the world whilst having fun – and food is a great opportunity to do this."
He continued, "This partnership is based on the principle of ‘Food Exploration' which is all about creating food experiences children will find intriguing and exciting. At the same time we want to reassure parents that our children's menus are nutritionally balanced – just another way we endeavour to give our guests piece of mind when they are away from home."
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts will roll out the new menu from January 2014 and it will be available in all properties globally by the end of June 2014.
This menu launch is a key part of a renewed food and beverage focus for IHG, whose family of brands also includes Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts and Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts. IHG's team of chefs and food experts globally are working on a number of new programmes to improve and enhance the food and beverage experiences guests can enjoy across the company's family of nine brands and more than 4,600 hotels globally.
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Media Enquiries:
Emma Corcoran
Brand Communications Director
IHG
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Email: emma.corcoran@ihg.com
Notes to Editors:
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of nine hotel brands, including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites®, EVENTM Hotels and HUALUXETM Hotels & Resorts.
IHG manages IHG® Rewards Club, the world's first and largest hotel loyalty programme with over 76 million members worldwide. The programme 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 679,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories. With more than 1,000 hotels in its development pipeline, IHG expects 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.
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