April 20, 2009 // Franchising.com // Shanghai, - IHG, the largest international hotel company by number of rooms in China, was named the "Best International Chain" for the second year in a row at TTG China Travel Awards, presented by TTG Publishing, a leading industry publication in Asia Pacific. Five hotels representing three IHG brands were also winners of various other categories:
TTG China Travel Awards recognise the highest performing travel and tourism organisations as voted for by their readers. As TTG's readership consists primarily of fellow trade professionals so winners are considered to comprise the finest in China's travel and tourism sector.
"We are thrilled that our commitment to provide excellent guest experience across all our brands is recognised again by our peers and industry colleagues." said Keith Barr, chief operating officer, IHG Greater China. "As the industry leader, we continuously challenge ourselves to set ever higher service standards for the hospitality industry."
As the first international hotel group to enter China in 1984, IHG's current portfolio includes 112 opened hotels and another over 120 in the pipeline*. Its current four brands in China - InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts and Holiday Inn Express - are dedicated to bringing value to a wide variety of guests and have become popular with local customers in their respective target demographics.
"The awards acknowledge the work of our brands and hotels, they also recognise the work of our dedicated teams and serve as encouragement for them to do even better" Keith added.
IHG will celebrate its 25th anniversary in China this year. As the largest international hotel operator in the country, the company is also the largest employer in hotel industry with nearly 32,000 employees and its rapid expansion will require an addition of 20,000 staff members over the next three to five years.
*Figures as at 31 Dec 2008
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, more than 4,150 hotels and almost 620,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®, and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club® Rewards with 42 million members worldwide.
IHG has more than 1,700 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 200,000 jobs worldwide over the next few years.
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.
The TTG China Travel Awards seeks to recognise China's highest performing travel and tourism organisations as determined by the votes cast by fellow trade professionals. TTG Asia media publishes the most sought after trade newspapers such as TTG China, TTG-BTmice China, TTG Asia and TTGmice. Established in Singapore since 1974, TTG Asia Media Ltd is the leading publisher and organiser of events in travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific region. Its publications and trade shows provide the best access and solutions to marketing travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is a multinational company which operates several hotel brands.