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 three resorts located in Spain, Egypt and Panama, increasing the brand’s total resort portfolio to 20.  Additional highlights anticipated in 2006 include the first InterContinental hotel to open in the key gateway city of Boston; two new InterContinental hotels to open in Greater China - in Chongqing and Shenzhen - bringing the brand’s total distribution to 7 hotels; and the 7th InterContinental hotel to open in Egypt.  IHG 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, Egypt, Berchtesgaden, Germany and Pafos, 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.”
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