IHG renovating its brands despite year’s turbulence

WASHINGTON, DC—Andy Cosslett, CEO of InterContinental Hotels Group has one word to explain why its 4,300 hotels have outperformed the pack in a market that is “turbulent, unprecedented and frightening.”

That word is “commitment.”

“Winners win because they have extraordinary levels of commitment,” he told developers and owners at the IHG Americas Investors and Leadership Conference held in Washington, DC Nov. 11-13, 2009.  “Our partnership has helped us withstand the downturn better than most — it’s the difference between being here or not.”

He added that the company has redoubled its efforts on the global relaunch of Holiday Inn by the end of 2010, and remains totally committed to seeing it through.  IHG has the largest pipeline in the industry, with 1,500 hotels, “twice the size of our nearest competitor”. The company has seven brands: Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, InterContinental, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites and Hotel Indigo.

Leslie McGibbon, VP, Global Corporate Affairs, InterContinental Hotels Group, Richard Solomons, CFO, IHG and Jim Abrahamson, president, IHG, the Americas, pose in front of a bed and dresser made entirely from Holiday Inn key cards at the IHG Americas Investors and Leadership Conference held in Washington, DC.