Brand Will Also Serve as Official Hotel of the SEC

ESPN announces that the Holiday Inn Express^® brand has come onboard as the newest official sponsor of the Southeastern Conference and SEC Network. Holiday Inn Express, the official hotel of the SEC, will also have category exclusivity on site at all SEC Championship events throughout the year, use of SEC and SEC Network marks and logos, as well as access to on site hospitality and marketing opportunities.

To that end, the Holiday Inn Express brand will be bringing its Pancake Selfie Express mobile breakfast tour to SEC tailgate parties throughout the Fall, alongside SEC Nation – the SEC Network’s traveling pre-game show which is live from a different SEC campus on game day each week.

Through the brand’s relationship with the SEC, the Pancake Selfie Express will visit various campuses as part of SEC Nation, giving football fans the opportunity to make their own pancake selfie and win SEC-related swag, including tickets to the SEC Championship Game in December. Consumers can also expect midweek stops in select cities along the SEC football route and can visit staysmart.com for updates on when and where the truck will pop up next.

“We know that in order to get game ready, SEC fans need to be rested and refreshed going into game day. Holiday Inn Express hotels offer fans a great night’s sleep, an energizing breakfast featuring our one-touch pancake machine, and a good, fast cup of coffee at the push of a button – everything they need to take on the day and the opposing team. We are proud to be the official sponsor of the SEC and the SEC Network, and can’t wait to bring fresh, hot pancakes and our one-of-a-kind Pancake Selfie Express to fans across the Southeast this fall,” said Jennifer Gribble, Vice President, Holiday Inn Express^®, Staybridge Suites^® and Candlewood Suites^® Brands, Americas, IHG.

Added Chris Eames, vice president, multimedia sales at ESPN, “SEC fans meticulously plan their tailgates to celebrate their teams and the Pancake Selfie Express is sure to draw crowds week in and week out. It’s a unique way to bring their brand to life with passionate – and hungry – college football fans.”

About the Holiday Inn Express^® brand
Holiday Inn Express^® hotels are modern hotels for value-oriented travelers. Fresh, clean and uncomplicated, Holiday Inn Express hotels offer competitive rates for both business and leisure travelers. Guests Stay Smart^® at Holiday Inn Express hotels where they enjoy a free hot Express Start™ breakfast bar with new healthier offerings, free high-speed Internet access and free local phone calls (U.S. and Canada only). There are currently 2,456 Holiday Inn Express hotel locations around the globe. For more information about Holiday Inn Express hotels or to book reservations, visit www.holidayinnexpress.com. Find us on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/hiexpress or Facebook www.Facebook.com/holidayinnexpress.

About SEC Network 

The Southeastern Conference and ESPN launched SEC Network on August 14, 2014.  The network televises over 45 SEC football games, 100 men’s basketball games, 60 women’s basketball games, 75 baseball games, and other events from across the SEC’s 21 sports annually. Programming includes in-depth analysis and storytelling in studio shows, daily news and information with SEC Now, original content such as SEC Storied and SEC Inside, and more. Hundreds of additional live events are offered exclusively on SEC Network’s digital companion, SEC Network+, via WatchESPN and SECNetwork.com.  The network has 70 million subscribers in the US and is also available in more than 50 countries throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa via ESPN Player, ESPN’s sports streaming service in the region.

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