InterContinental Hotels Group have announced that its Holiday Inn brand has become the first major hotel brand in the world to launch a travel app for Windows 8 – the newest version of the Windows operating platform for PCs and tablets. We’ve previously explored how important mobile and consumer technology has become in IHG’s growth strategy and picking Holiday Inn, the world’s largest upper midscale hotel brand, seems a sensible brand to kick-off this latest venture. The new app allows guests to find and book rooms at any Holiday Inn hotel, as well as at the more than 4,500 IHG hotels worldwide, including the InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites brands. Through the app’s tile on the Start screen, guests can directly search for hotels, see property photo galleries and descriptions as well as view existing reservations. Priority Club® Rewards members also can view their status and check their points balance through the application.
“Holiday Inn has transformed the hospitality industry with its innovative and modern approach to guest services, and has a rich heritage of firsts in the industry, so it was a natural fit for our first app for Windows 8 to be rolled out with this industry-leading brand. “Developing an easy-to-use e-commerce app furthers our commitment to identifying and leveraging emerging technology to drive satisfaction for our guests, while optimizing revenue delivery for our hotels” said Michael Menis, vice president, Web and Interactive Marketing, IHG.
The Holiday Inn app can be downloaded free of charge from the Windows Store and builds upon IHG’s existing developments and consumer-facing technology that facilitates guests’ access to e-commerce tools for hotel stays.
“Microsoft app developers have always provided rich functionality and value for our shared customers, and Windows 8 gives them the platform to deliver.” said John Richards, senior director of Windows App Marketing for Microsoft Corp. “The re-imagining of Windows keeps our app developers ahead of the competition and gives our shared customers flexibility and choice.”
Hotel Insight Blog 
I know its all very well saying it when we are talking about a hotel company with lots of cash, but if you are a hotel and entering the mobile app world, you need to cover as many platforms as possible – Apple, Android and Windows. If you don’t you leave customers annoyed and de-valued.