InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms and China’s largest international hotel operator announced the signing of a landmark InterContinental hotel in Beijing’s city centre - located directly across from the famous Sanlitun entertainment area.

The agreement with Beijing Topwin Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. will add a total of 320 rooms by 2014 and marks another milestone for IHG’s continuing development in China.

Sanlitun, one of the best-known entertainment areas in Beijing, is located in Eastern Beijing’s Chaoyang District and forms part of the Gongti (Beijing Worker’s Stadium) nightlife area, a popular entertainment area for locals and as well as the expatriate community and travellers. A stone’s throw from the fashionable Sanlitun Soho and close to the embassy district, the InterContinental Beijing City Center is close to transportation links to most of the city’s attractions.

The InterContinental Beijing City Center will join the InterContinental Beijing Financial Street and InterContinental Beijing Beichen - both also located in strategic areas and considered lodging hotspots for international travellers to Beijing.

“One of the world’s key cities, Beijing will continue to attract large numbers of business and leisure travellers from home and abroad,” said Keith Barr, managing director of IHG Greater China. “We’re continuing to target growth opportunities in high potential markets like China.”

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has 164 hotels located in more than 60 countries with over 60 years of experience meeting the needs of travelers seeking enriching experiences. There are 14 InterContinental hotels in Greater China, with an additional 17 being developed (seven hotels will be opened in 2010) including the InterContinental Shanghai Expo, InterContinental Nanjing and InterContinental Sanya.

IHG is expanding in key world capitals. InterContinental Paris Avenue Marceau was recently opened and InterContinental New York Times Square, Manhattan’s largest newly-built hotel, will be opened this July. InterContinental London Westminster is scheduled to open in late 2011, in time for the 2012 Olympics. There is a total of 63 InterContinental hotels in the global development pipeline.

Having been established in the China market since 1984, IHG has become a trusted partner for local owners through its successful operations and strategic expansion. Growing its footprint in Chinese cities, IHG currently has 126 hotels operating under four brands - InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts and Holiday Inn Express Hotels, with more than 100 hotels under development.