The addition of prime properties in sought-after locales of key travel destinations has reinforced InterContinental Hotels Group�s position at the industry forefront. The Group has firmly re-established itself in Malaysia�s capital city of Kuala Lumpur with Crowne Plaza Kuala Lumpur. The country�s northern resort state of Penang will see the establishment of the luxurious InterContinental Resort Penang. And the Group�s Crowne Plaza brand is continuing to make significant inroads into the meetings market. Another key addition to the portfolio is Crowne Plaza Karon Beach Phuket, which is set to capture its share of the expanding meetings market in Thailand. The Group is also growing its presence in the key market of China with Express by Holiday Inn, which appeals to value-conscious domestic travellers and international visitors.

Said InterContinental Hotels Group�s Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Mr A. Patrick Imbardelli: �Our established brand portfolio continues to make us the partner of choice. Hotel owners and business partners appreciate our global scale, infrastructure and resources. They also recognise that we have the right brands, and the right people with the breadth and depth of experience and expertise necessary to drive revenue and profitability. Closing these deals demonstrates hotel owners� confidence in our ability to deliver the best value to them. Our Asia Pacific brand portfolio is now stronger than ever before.��

Added Mr Imbardelli, �While this year�s crop of new signings has added a significant number of hotels to our portfolio in North Asia, particularly in China where there is tremendous growth potential, we have concurrently achieved an increase in distribution in South Asia, and Australia and New Zealand as well. We remain fully committed to our key markets and will continue to leverage our leadership position in all these territories by building on the great relationships we have developed. We are well on our way to achieving our goal of a 50 percent increase in our portfolio in the short term.�

The following are the 25 hotels and their respective opening dates:

1)   InterContinental Moon Valley Beijing (2007)
2)   InterContinental Resort Penang (Q3 2005)

 
InterContinental Hotels Group currently has 150 hotels in Asia Pacific, catering to business and leisure travellers in key gateway and secondary cities. 

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC of the United Kingdom [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world�s most global hotel company and the largest by number of rooms. InterContinental Hotels Group owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, more than 3,500 hotels and 538,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world (www.ichotelsgroup.com). InterContinental Hotels Group owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn ® Hotels and Resorts, Express Holiday by Inn®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites®, and Hotel Indigo � and also has a controlling interest in Britvic, the second largest soft drinks manufacturer in the UK.