InterContinental Hotels Group signs nine new management contracts for hotels in China

InterContinental Hotels Group has signed nine new management contracts for hotels in China.

The signing marks the debut of Express by Holiday Inn in Greater China, as two of the nine new hotels will fly the Express by Holiday Inn flag. The other new hotels being added to the Group's portfolio are one InterContinental Hotel, three Holiday Inn Hotels and three Crowne Plaza Hotels.

InterContinental Hotels Group's Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Mr A. Patrick Imbardelli said, "The Chinese market is ready for Express by Holiday Inn. With the strong economic outlook and the projected increase in domestic travel and in the number of independent travellers coming into China, Express by Holiday Inn will enable us to fully tap into this burgeoning segment."

"These latest deals will augment our presence in Greater China and are concrete proof that we are indeed the partner of choice. Our growing portfolio clearly demonstrates that our partners recognise the value of our award-winning brands and have a deep confidence in our ability to deliver memorable guest experiences and exceptional business performance. We are pioneers in the hotel industry in China and have been unwavering in our commitment. This is a key market for us and we will continue to nurture our partner relationships and build on our successes here,'' added Mr Imbardelli.

New additions to China Portfolio

InterContinental Moon Valley Beijing will open in 2007. Owned by the Dongrun Group, the proposed hotel will be located near the "Water Basin of Beijing" - the Miyun Reservoir. With 280 rooms, 25 villas, seven food and beverage outlets, multiple meeting rooms and a multi-functional banquet room.

Scheduled to open early next year, the proposed Crowne Plaza Longgang Shenzhen in Guangdong province is a 300-room hotel, situated in the centre of Longgang district, in Shenzhen. Offering premium accommodation with enhanced meetings services and the latest in communication, information and entertainment technology, the new proposed hotel is owned by real estate developer Shenzhen Zhilianjia Industrial Co. Ltd.

The proposed 300-room Crowne Plaza Tianjin will be located in Nan Kai district, a major commercial area in Tianjin. The proposed hotel, which will open next year, is close to the famous Commercial Street and is owned by Tianjin Longqiao Real Estate Development Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of real estate developer, Tianjin Pharmaceutical Group. The proposed hotel is part of a complex that will also include a shopping mall, offices and residential apartments.

By the end of next year, the proposed Crowne Plaza Science City Guangzhou in Guangdong province will also welcome its first guests. This 350-room hotel is owned by Guangzhou Science City Entrepreneur Service Centre Co., Ltd, a sub-company of Guangdong Kingtown Group. The property will be located about 30 minutes from the airport.

The proposed Holiday Inn Changshu in Jiangsu province will be first internationally branded hotel in Changshu city. Located in the heart of a rapidly developing zone close to the Changshu City Government Office and Exhibition Centre, the proposed hotel, owned by Changshu Zhong Jiang Import & Export Company Limited, will have 250 rooms and is scheduled to open in 2006.

And when the proposed 271-room Holiday Inn North Chongqing opens in Sichuan province in 2006, it will be the InterContinental Hotels Group's third hotel in Chongqing, after Holiday Inn Yangtze Chongqing and the InterContinental Chongqing. Chongqing Changan Real Estate Development Co. Ltd. owns the new proposed hotel. It will be conveniently located at the junction of two main districts, the Yubei and Jiangbei districts, which are close to a new industrial development zone and several upmarket residential projects.

Erdos State Guest House, belonging to the Erdos City Government, owns the proposed Holiday Inn Erdos, InterContinental Hotels Group's second hotel in Inner Mongolia. Located a mere five minutes from the city's main train station, the proposed new hotel will occupy an area of about 29,000 sqm. Phase I of the project will have 144-rooms and upon completion of Phase II, there will be a total of 220 guest rooms. The hotel is scheduled to open by the end of this year and will be equipped with quality meeting and recreational facilities, including a multi-function room that can accommodate up to 400 guests. The expected opening date of the hotel is end 2004.

Situated in the heart of Xi'an city's business and shopping district is the proposed Express by Holiday Inn Bell Tower Xi'an. It will be just 500m north of the city's central point and local icon, the Xi'an Bell Tower. The proposed 300-room hotel, owned by Xian Wanye Housing and Real Estate Development Co. Ltd, a JV real estate development company, is scheduled to open in 2006.

Already open for business, is the re-branded, 271-room Express by Holiday Inn Zhengzhou in Henan province. It is situated in the city centre, close to the provincial government offices and shopping areas. The hotel is owned by Zhong Zhou Guesthouse Co. Ltd, which also owns Crowne Plaza Zhengzhou and Holiday Inn Zhengzhou.