InterContinental has opened four new hotels in the past month in China, this boosts the group’s country portfolio to 57 hotels.

It hopes to have 125 hotels in China by 2008 and is already the largest overseas hotel operator in the country.

The four latest properties include the Crowne Plaza Changshu, Crowne Plaza Fudan Shanghai, Holiday Inn Jasmine Suzhou and Holiday Inn Seaview Qinhuangdao.

“China is a key market for InterContinental Hotels Group and where a significant portion of our global expansion strategy will be carried out. We continue to open new hotels in key cities and secondary locations,” said Edmond Ip, chief operating officer, North Asia, InterContinental Hotels Group, in a company statement.

The InterContinental Hotel Group was also voted the World’s Leading Hotel Brand at last year’s World Travel Awards.

In another statement on Monday the hotel group said that it will also be introducing a hotel to Qingdao in China’s Shandong province in 2008.

InterContinental Qingdao, a 438-room new-build waterfront hotel, will be part of the 45-hectare integrated Olympic Water Sports Centre at Fushan Bay, which will host the sailing events of the 2008 Olympics.

The complex will feature an international conference centre and cruise terminal, marina and yachting club and extensive shopping, entertainment and recreation facilities. InterContinental Hotels Group will manage the hotel on behalf of Qingdao Dong’Ao Development & Construction Group, developer of the Olympic Water Sports Centre.

InterContinental Qingdao will be the only hotel in the centre and will open in 2008, before the Olympic Games. Complementing the nearby international conference centre, the hotel’s state-of-the-art meeting facilities will be able to accommodate up 2,000 guests.

Edmond Ip, InterContinental Hotels Group’s chief operating officer for North Asia, said: “Qingdao will play host to the 2008 Olympics sailing events and we couldn’t have asked for a better time and place to introduce InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, our flagship luxury brand, to this beautiful city, which has traditionally attracted scores of leisure and business travellers. This is truly an Olympic win for InterContinental Hotels Group and we are indeed privileged to be working with Qingdao Dong’Ao, one of China’s top property developers and a driving force behind some of the most significant 2008 Olympic construction projects.”

Wang Dong Chu, general manager of Qingdao Dong’Ao Development & Construction Group, added: “We are excited to be embarking on this landmark development with InterContinental Hotels Group. Their extensive hotel management expertise, global scale, proven operating systems and internationally renowned hotel brands will bring unparalleled success to this exciting hotel development. We are confident that our expectations for InterContinental Qingdao will be exceeded.”

The city of Qingdao, located on the northeast coast of China, is well-known for its picturesque scenery, pristine beaches, colonial European heritage, fresh seafood and the internationally renowned Tsingtao beer. Strategically located near Korea and Japan, Qingdao is also an important international trading centre and one of China’s top 10 economic and tourist destinations.

InterContinental Hotels Group is the largest international hotel company in China, with an extensive portfolio of 55 hotels across four well-known brands. This will be the Group’s second hotel in Qingdao, after the Crowne Plaza Qingdao, located in the city’s commercial centre. The company is on track towards achieving its target of having 125 hotels open in China by 2008.
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