IHG’s Crowne Plaza brand has received approval for the patenting of its WorkLife Room, as part of a US$200 million investment to transform the brand in the Americas region.

The group said that the room concept “is designed to help modern business travellers unleash their productivity and provide them with a space that fits their blended lifestyle”.

Features include an angled bed, which Crowne Plaza says “opens up more space for the room’s distinct zones”, as well as a “sofa nook”, uncluttered workspace, welcome station for keys, bags and coats, and a redesigned bathroom.

IHG also says that the new rooms have enough USB ports and power outlets to power up to 14 devices.

The WorkLife Room debuted in 2017, and is currently available in a handful of hotels in the US including Crowne Plaza Atlanta Midtown, Crowne Plaza Downtown Denver, Crowne Plaza Farmington Hills – Novi, Crowne Plaza Cleveland at Playhouse Square, Crowne Plaza Suites Arlington – Ballpark – Stadium, and Crowne Plaza Springfield.

The brand aims to have the concept installed in 3,000 rooms by early next year.

Commenting on the news Meredith Latham, Regional Vice President, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Americas said:

“The patent approval of the Crowne Plaza brand’s WorkLife Room is a major distinction – one that speaks to the concept’s ground-breaking design, and one that demonstrates how the Crowne Plaza brand is redefining what a hotel room can be.”

ihg.com