InterContinental Hotels Group  confirmed plans to double its presence in Greater China to over 250 hotels over the next five years.

This follows the recent opening of two InterContinental hotels in Nanjing and Shanghai and the signing of a deal with HNA Hotels and Resorts last month for five hotels.

IHG is currently the largest international hotel company in Greater China with 131 hotels (45,940 rooms) open and a further 146 hotels (47,848 rooms) in the development pipeline.

InterContinental Hotels Group CEO, Andy Cosslett, said: "Our strong partnerships with hotel developers in Greater China enable us to develop high quality hotels in key locations. By establishing ourselves as the first international hotel company in China with the Holiday Inn Lido in Beijing in 1984, we now have an extensive infrastructure with over 40,000 people across the country and a presence in over 40 major, secondary and tertiary cities.  We will create a further 87,000 jobs across China over the next five years as we open the hotels in our pipeline.

InterContinental Shanghai Puxi - Night View

"This year we are opening over 30 hotels in Greater China. This includes seven InterContinental, seven Crowne Plaza and the debut of Hotel Indigo in an outstanding location on the Bund in the centre of Shanghai, following our strategy to develop an upscale presence in key locations. Our upscale hotels in Greater China have an average room count of 350, significantly larger than our other markets, with the vast majority being managed by IHG. This gives us a highly profitable and significant business in China with annual gross hotel revenues in excess of US$1 billion."

Greater China has rebounded quickly from the industry downturn. At its first quarter trading update in May, IHG reported RevPAR growth for Greater China of 22.2% and 27.1% in April.

A recent guideline issued by China's State Council confirmed the Chinese Government has established tourism as a key economic pillar, with a total of 25 national and regional development plans in place with tourism as a strategic focus. The Government is also investing US$120 billion in its railway network, laying over 85,000 kilometres of freeway and constructing 97 new airports to upgrade the transport infrastructure across the country.

InterContinental Shanghai Expo - Deluxe Room

The World Expo 2010 Shanghai China has generated interest and opportunity for the tourism and hotel industry. The international event is estimated to attract a total of 70 million visitors in six months.

Since the opening on 1 May this year, 20 million domestic and international visitors have contributed to the demand for hotels in the city. The new InterContinental Shanghai Expo is the only hotel on the Expo Park site.

IHG Key Greater China Statistics

• The recent deal with HNA Hotels and Resorts includes:
• InterContinental Haikou: 200 rooms, opens 1st quarter, 2014
• InterContinental Changchun: 300 rooms, opens 4th quarter, 2015
• Crowne Plaza Changchun Noble: 290 rooms, opens 4th quarter, 2012
• Crowne Plaza Kunming West: 300 rooms, opens 1st quarter, 2014
• Holiday Inn Beijing Sifang: 217 rooms, opens 1st quarter, 2012
• IHG is the largest international hotel operator in Greater China with 131 hotels (45,940 rooms) open and 146 hotels (47,848 rooms) in the pipeline. This  makes Greater China IHG's second largest operating region (the US is number one)
• IHG's combined system and pipeline, of luxury and upscale hotels, is the largest in Greater China with 130 hotels (56,626 rooms).

As at 31 May 2010

• IHG currently has 40,000 people working in China and expects to recruit a further 87,000 within the next 5 years.
• IHG currently has a 15% share of the branded hotel market in Greater China and a 28% share of the branded hotel pipeline. (Source: STR Global May 2010)
• IHG properties in Greater China are mostly operated under management contracts.

Other interesting articles at 4Hoteliers.com (new window opens):

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