After its debut in Russia in 1998, with the 154-room Holiday Inn Vinogradovo in Moscow, InterContinental Hotels Group currently has 11 hotels in the country and a further five across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

This week, the group has announced that it plans to expand in the region to reach a total of 100 hotels in Russia and the CIS by 2020.

 "We see a huge opportunity to grow our hotels brands, such as Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn, in Russia," said Angela Brav, IHG's chief executive officer for Europe.

"In Moscow alone, there are just over 9,000 international standard rooms, which is equivalent to around ten per cent of the hotel rooms in London so there is still a terrific opportunity for international hotel operators with a presence here," she added.

As part of the expansion, the group plans to bring Hotel Indigo, its new boutique brand, to Moscow and St Petersburg.

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