IHG named Best International Chain Company for the second consecutive year at TTG China Travel Awards

Long-term leadership building efforts win industry recognition

Shanghai. - IHG, the largest international hotel company by number of rooms in China, was named the “Best International Chain” for the second year in a row at TTG China Travel Awards, presented by TTG Publishing, a leading industry publication in Asia Pacific. Five hotels representing three IHG brands were also winners of various other categories:

* InterContinental Hong Kong - Best Meeting & Conventions Hotel in Hong Kong
* InterContinental Shenzhen - Best Luxury Hotel in Shenzhen
* Crowne Plaza Shenzhen - Best Business Hotel in Shenzhen
* Holiday Inn Shifu Guangzhou - Best Mid-range Hotel in Guangzhou
* Holiday Inn Macau - Best Mid-range Hotel in Macau

TTG China Travel Awards recognise the highest performing travel and tourism organisations as voted for by their readers. As TTG’s readership consists primarily of fellow trade professionals so winners are considered to comprise the finest in China’s travel and tourism sector.

“We are thrilled that our commitment to provide excellent guest experience across all our brands is recognised again by our peers and industry colleagues.” said Keith Barr, chief operating officer, IHG Greater China. “As the industry leader, we continuously challenge ourselves to set ever higher service standards for the hospitality industry.”

As the first international hotel group to enter China in 1984, IHG’s current portfolio includes 112 opened hotels and another over 120 in the pipeline*. Its current four brands in China - InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts and Holiday Inn Express - are dedicated to bringing value to a wide variety of guests and have become popular with local customers in their respective target demographics.

“The awards acknowledge the work of our brands and hotels, they also recognise the work of our dedicated teams and serve as encouragement for them to do even better” Keith added.

IHG will celebrate its 25th anniversary in China this year. As the largest international hotel operator in the country, the company is also the largest employer in hotel industry with nearly 32,000 employees and its rapid expansion will require an addition of 20,000 staff members over the next three to five years.

*Figures as at 31 Dec 2008