InterContinental Hotels & Resorts Continues Global Expansion in 2006
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InterContinental Hotels & Resorts Continues Global Expansion in 2006
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Category: Worldwide
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2006-02-10
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts Continues Global Expansion in 2006
Nine new openings planned worldwide
Upcoming Asian destinations include Chongqing and Shenzhen
Singapore, 9 February 2006 – InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON: IHG; NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms, continues to aggressively increase global distribution of its premium brand – InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. In the coming year, nine new InterContinental Hotels and Resorts are scheduled to open around the world in China, the United States, Europe and the Middle East.
Andrew Cosslett, chief executive of InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, commented: “The strength of the InterContinental brand represents a great draw for hotel owners and guests worldwide. The high levels of service and quality, coupled with a unique understanding of local cultures, create a fantastic position for InterContinental as an international hotel brand. We look forward to opening further InterContinental hotels around the world as we grow this iconic brand.”
Included among these new openings in 2006 are two new InterContinental hotels in Greater China – in Chongqing and Shenzhen – bringing the brand’s total distribution there to seven hotels. Additional highlights anticipated in 2006 include three resorts located in Spain, Egypt and Panama, increasing the brand’s total resort portfolio to 20; the first InterContinental hotel to open in the key gateway city of Boston; and the seventh InterContinental hotel to open in Egypt. InterContinental Hotels Group continues to focus its growth efforts for the InterContinental brand geographically in the United States while also developing its resort portfolio around the world. Looking beyond into 2007, the company expects to continue a steady pace of new openings that include several resorts in the Asia Pacific region as well as the new landmark InterContinental Dubai Festival City that will incorporate a convention centre and private residences.
In 2005, InterContinental opened seven hotels in primary commercial destinations such as Beijing and Düsseldorf; and in distinctive resort destinations such as Abu Soma in Egypt, Berchtesgaden in Germany and Pafos in Cyprus.
Jenifer Zeigler, senior vice president, global brand management, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, commented: “Our goal is to ensure that InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is the brand of choice for experiential travellers and the evolving generation of hotel guests in markets around the world.”
Carmen Lam, vice president, sales and marketing, InterContinental Hotels Group Asia Pacific, added: “InterContinental Hotels Group has a longstanding history in China, which is one of the fastest growing markets for us worldwide. These upcoming hotels in Chongqing and Shenzhen, which will join our existing 27 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in Asia Pacific, are proof of our ongoing commitment to this strategic market.”
Detailed Notes:
1) 2006 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts scheduled hotel openings*:
In Asia Pacific
o InterContinental Chongqing, China – Anticipated opening June 2006; marks the sixth InterContinental hotel in Greater China. Located in a 42-storey twin tower mixed-use complex in the central business district and is a landmark building in the city.
o InterContinental Shenzhen, China – Anticipated opening fourth quarter 2006; marks the seventh InterContinental hotel in Greater China. This 549-room new-build hotel will be the first luxury hotel in Shenzhen located in the Nanshan district, near key attractions and the city’s main exhibition centre.
In Europe, Middle East and Africa
o InterContinental Mar Menor Golf Resort, Spain – Anticipated opening June 2006. Includes Jack Nicklaus Design championship golf course and ESPA wellness centre.
o InterContinental Taba Heights Resort, Egypt – Anticipated opening July 2006. Marks the seventh InterContinental hotel in Egypt and the sixth InterContinental resort in the Middle East.
o InterContinental Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia – Anticipated opening July 2006. Marks the 12th InterContinental hotel in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
o InterContinental Belgrade, Serbia – Anticipated opening November 2006. Originally opened as an InterContinental in 1979 until the Balkan War of the 1990’s; due to be re-branded and open officially as an InterContinental hotel following renovations.
In the Americas
o InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza, Missouri – Opened January 2006. AAA Four Diamond hotel consistently rated as Kansas City’s best hotel.
o InterContinental Harbor Court Baltimore, Maryland – Opened January 2006. Joins sister hotel The Willard InterContinental along Washington/Baltimore corridor.
o InterContinental Playa Bonita Resort & Spa, Panama – Anticipated opening late spring 2006. First resort and spa of its kind in Latin America located on the Panama Canal.
o InterContinental Boston, Massachusetts – Anticipated opening October 2006. First InterContinental residential hotel development in the United States with 130 private residences.
* All projected openings during 2006 are based on current timelines.
2) 2005 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts openings
o InterContinental Abu Soma Resort, Egypt – Opened in January. Sixth InterContinental hotel in Egypt.
o InterContinental Aqaba, Jordan – Opened in May. Second InterContinental hotel in Jordan.
o InterContinental Aphrodite Hills Resort Hotel, Cyprus – Opened in March. Full service golf, tennis and spa resort.
o InterContinental Resort Berchtesgaden, Germany – Opened in March. First InterContinental Resort in Germany.
o InterContinental Financial Street Beijing, China – Opened in May. Fifth InterContinental hotel in Greater China and the first in Beijing.
o InterContinental Düsseldorf, Germany – Opened in September. Sixth InterContinental hotel in Germany.
o Presidente InterContinental Villa Mercedes Mèrida, Mexico – Opened in November. Ninth InterContinental hotel in Mexico.
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