IHG plans to expand business for 30-yr anniversary in Chinese market

UK-based international InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) said it is celebrating its successful presence for full 30 years in the Chinese market throughout the whole 2014.

The successful business concept of IHG was introduced in China in 1984.

The company will celebrate its success by milestone hotel openings in 2014, including its first HUALUXE Hotels and Resorts unit, an international luxury hotel brand designed specifically for Chinese consumers.

The group currently operates five hotel brands in the Chinese market: InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts and Holiday Inn Express Hotels.

IHG employs over 60,000 in China which makes it the largest employer among international hotels brands in the region. The company is expected to add another 30,000 new jobs by 2015.

China is the company’s second largest market after the U.S. but it is likely to surpass it by number of rooms by 2025. IHG has nearly 200 hotels in operation in China and another 180 in development.

The majority of IHG franchisees extend their partnerships with the company or enter into multi-unit deals, One-third of IHG’s franchise agreements are signed with existing franchisees, according to the company’s statistics.