Sep. 24, 2003 - InterContinental Hotels & Resorts a luxury chain that has been a top brand internationally but has had a more modest presence on American shores, will double the number of U.S. hotels over the next decade.

The chain said Tuesday it will build at least 16 hotels in key cities such as Los Angeles, Orlando, Seattle, Phoenix and San Diego, where it doesn't have a presence.

Part of that expansion is already under way. The company, whose American headquarters is in Atlanta, is building a 21-story, 400-room hotel in Buckhead. The facility is expected to open in November 2004.

InterContinental's move comes in the face of a downturn in the hospitality industry that was triggered by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

But industry experts say luxury properties have weathered the slowdown quite well.

"The one property type that has been most resilient throughout the difficult times the industry has faced over the last two years has been the four-star, five-star hotel," said Mark Woodworth, executive vice president of PKF Consulting Inc.

"A lot of this initiative is being driven by guests' needs," said Jeff Senior vice president of brand management for InterContinental's America region.

"They go to these cities and we don't have a hotel, so they stay somewhere else.

"So, in essence, we are introducing them to our competitors."

InterContinental is known for its suites that include French silks and fabrics in drawing rooms to antiques to bathrooms in Italian marble. Competitors are the Ritz-Carlton Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and Westin Hotels & Resorts chains.

InterContinental made the announcement during the three-day annual meeting of its parent company, InterContinental Hotels Group, at the Georgia World Congress Center.

InterContinental Hotels Group also owns Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts and Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn chains. The meeting ends today.

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(c) 2003, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. IHG, HOT, MAR,