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InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is enjoying unprecedented growth in Asia Pacific. Thirty new InterContinental hotels (more than 10,000 rooms) will open in the next three years, including five hotels this year. The brand already has a portfolio of 35 hotels across Asia Pacific and most recently celebrated the opening of InterContinental Hanoi Westlake, which marked its entry into Vietnam. In Greater China alone, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts will almost triple its portfolio to 24 hotels by 2010, from nine today.
IHG recently signed five new InterContinental Hotels & Resorts properties in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuxi and One Thousand Island Lake. In Shanghai, InterContinental Shanghai Pudong will be joined in 2009 by InterContinental Shanghai Puxi and InterContinental Shanghai Expo in the World Expo Village. InterContinental Shanghai Puxi will be part of BM Plaza, a mixed-use commercial complex, and will offer the largest conference facilities in the Puxi area. InterContinental Shanghai Expo will be located on the Pudong section of the World Expo Village and its design will incorporate nine converted heritage buildings.
InterContinental One Thousand Island Lake Resort, a lake view property 150km from Hangzhou, will open in 2009. This will be followed in 2010 by the opening of InterContinental Guangzhou Poly World Trade Centre and InterContinental Wuxi.
In other Asia Pacific markets, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts also continues its expansion with the establishment of new InterContinental hotels in cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, New Delhi and Queenstown. InterContinental is also preparing to open 11 new resort properties over the next three years in new destinations such as Danang, Penang, Hua Hin, Huizhou and Okinawa, as well as established locations like Bali, Beijing and Fiji.
“InterContinental Hotels & Resorts aims to help our guests become more inspired by the places they visit. Our commitment appeals to luxury travellers who want to leave a city or resort with unique memories,” said Gary Rosen, senior vice president, sales and marketing, IHG Asia Pacific. “We are excited that InterContinental will be expanding to 30 more locations across the Asia Pacific. This will give our guests more places to enjoy the authentic and enriching encounters that define the ‘in the know’ InterContinental experience.”
This year, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts will open four new properties in China and one in Australia. Of the four hotels to open in China in 2008, two will offer unparalleled access to Olympics sporting venues. Hotel openings in 2008 include:
InterContinental Beijing Beichen – It will open in June 2008 exclusively for the Olympic Games, and will subsequently open to all guests from late September 2008.
InterContinental Qingdao – The hotel will open in May 2008 exclusively for the Olympic Games, and will subsequently open to all guests from late September 2008.
InterContinental Huizhou Resort – The 220-room resort will be surrounded by mountains and unspoiled natural beauty and is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2008. It will be the second InterContinental resort in the People’s Republic of China. Highlights include an extensive wellness spa and an 18-hole golf course.
InterContinental Dalian – Known as one of China’s most modern and livable cities, the northern Chinese city of Dalian will welcome the arrival of the 500-room InterContinental Dalian in late 2008.
InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto – In late 2008, the opening of InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto will bring a new lease of life to two adjoining 19th century Romanesque and Gothic-style buildings located within the city’s financial district. The hotel will have 252 rooms and will join other heritage hotels such as InterContinental Sydney, InterContinental Paris Le Grand and InterContinental The Willard Washington DC.
