In 2009, IHG opened a record 439 hotels representing more than 55,000 rooms across the company’s seven brands: InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, and Candlewood Suites. Of the openings, 375 occurred in the Americas—238 of which were the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands. In addition, IHG signed 247 new license agreements for the region last year.