IHG is set to open four Express by Holiday Inn properties in South Africa, with the first expected later this year in Cape Town with a 161 room capacity.

This will be shortly followed by Express by Holiday Inn Sandton Woodmead and Express by Holiday Inn Pretoria Sunny Park in early 2008, with 160 and 300 rooms respectively. Express by Holiday Inn Umhlanga is also planned to open in 2009.

InterContinental Hotels Group has an exclusive agreement with ISO Leisure, a leisure development company based in South Africa, to develop Express by Holiday Inn hotels in South Africa. All planned Express by Holiday Inn hotels will be located in South Africa's business hubs or in areas of high traffic flow.

Ewan Cameron, Vice President Development, InterContinental Hotels Group, Africa, said, "The announcement of the four Express by Holiday Inn properties in South Africa is indicative of our confidence in the country's economic prospects and stability, and in particular, the high potential of its tourism industry. The limited service sector will be increasingly important across the country over the next few years as the market matures and diversifies to accommodate a burgeoning new tier of traveller looking for a smart, fresh, welcoming place to stay and of course value for money."

Express by Holiday Inn now has 1,686 hotels globally, with a further 574 properties in the pipeline.