InterContinental invests even further in India, announces move for 13 new hotels

Multinational hotel group InterContinental has unveiled a deal to build 13 new hotels in India, creating over 2,000 jobs in the country and helping to “safeguard” hundreds of UK roles.

The news came as Jan Smits, chief executive of IHG in Asia, Middle East and Africa, took part in a trade mission to India alongside David Cameron to boost trade ties between the countries.

Mr Smits said: “India is an extremely important market for IHG. We have our second largest pipeline in Asia Pacific here after China. With international tourism increasing year on year and the continued strength of domestic tourism, we see incredible opportunities for growth.”

The Prime Minister said: “This big expansion of InterContinental Hotels Group across India showcases their ability to compete in the global race and will help safeguard several hundred jobs in the UK.”

The deal takes the number of IHG hotels in India to 47 and will create more than 2,600 new jobs for local people, in addition to the 3,400 already working for IHG in India. The company said the expansion will help secure hundreds of jobs in the UK where IHG is headquartered.

IHG first entered India in 1962 when it opened an InterContinental property in Delhi. IHG is expanding in cities including business and tourism destinations such as Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune and Goa.

Domestic demand in India is driving growth in IHG’s mid-scale brands Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express – over 850m trips were taken by Indians last year. Mr Smits said: “When a hotel opens it spurs infrastructure development and creates job opportunities. We’ll hire more than 10,000 people over the next few years.”