IHG Plans Launch Of New China-centric Brand

InterContinental Hotels Group recently announced its plan to reinforce its position in China's hotel market by developing a new upscale China-centric hotel brand.

Now in the early stages of development, the brand will be specially designed for the Chinese market. Alongside China's growing travel and tourism economy, IHG says it aims to build on the success of its current brand lineup with this addition which will complement China's growing travel and tourism economy. The first international hotel group to enter China 27 years ago, IHG positions itself as China's largest and most rapidly growing international hotel company, with 150 hotels open and another 150 under development to be opened in the next five years.

While in Shanghai for the group's board and executive committee meetings David Webster, the chairman of the board, expressed IHG's vision for the new brand as one for Chinese travelers to grow up with, nurturing the same trust and comfort as experienced by foreigners discovering a familiar brand like InterContinental upon their arrival in the China.

Webster commented China is the fastest growing travel and tourism economy in the world and IHG aimed to build on its leadership position by developing this new upscale brand, while continuing the fast growth of its existing brands including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, and Holiday Inn Express.

He added that China was a significant part IHG's global strategy, and he was delighted that he and his board colleagues, were are able to spend time in China outlining their commitment and future development plans.

In order to support the group's plan to double the size of its business, IHG says it will hire an additional 90,000 people over the next three to five years: in addition to its current 45,000 employees.