IHG demonstrates its long-term vision at CIIE

Leading hotelier InterContinental Hotels Group has showed great confidence in and commitment to the Chinese market by participating in the China International Import Expo for five consecutive years.

The CIIE is an important platform that promotes China's intent to strengthen international cooperation, and boosts trade liberalization and economic globalization, said Daniel Aylmer, managing director of IHG Greater China.

Moreover, it offers multinational companies an opportunity to declare their local commitments and build mutual trust with the Chinese government, Aylmer said.

"IHG raised its profile in China through the CIIE, while presenting our strengths and strategies to potential investors, clients and other stakeholders," he said.

At the fifth CIIE, which concluded on Thursday in Shanghai, IHG focused on "luxury and lifestyle", with its booth decorations featuring elements of its Regent and Kimpton hotel brands.

Luxury and lifestyle hotels are a key segment for IHG, which has created a total of six luxury brands including Six Senses, Regent, Kimpton, and Vignette Collection, according to the group.

Aylmer added that the luxury and lifestyle hotel market has bright prospects in China as a growing number of high-end consumers have turned to domestic luxury travel.

IHG will continue to spur growth in the luxury and lifestyle business and expand services for Chinese consumers, Aylmer said.

In September, the group welcomed its 600th hotel in China — Kimpton Bamboo Grove Suzhou — only a year and half since the 500th milestone. It also marked the debut of the Kimpton brand in the Chinese mainland.

With more than 1,000 hotels opened or under construction, China has become IHG's fastest-growing and second-largest market worldwide, according to the company. "Our operations in China now cover about 10 percent of the group's global opening portfolio and over 25 percent of hotels in the pipeline," Aylmer added.

China's dual-circulation development paradigm, which takes the domestic market as the mainstay while the domestic and foreign markets complement each other, brought opportunities to hoteliers, according to Aylmer. "We have seen increasing demand for domestic leisure travel and consumers show a stronger preference for high-quality services and customized experiences in the post-epidemic era."

To better cater to savvy customers, IHG has diversified its product portfolio, improved digital operations and reinforced brand partnerships, Aylmer said.

The group's first heritage hotel in Asia — Intercontinental Shanghai Ruijin — launched a cultural event during this year's National Day holiday, which allowed guests to explore the historical building and learn its stories.

"Consumption upgrades were also conducive for our upper-midscale brands including Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express," he said.

IHG has been tapping into huge markets outside the first-tier cities, especially those in regions involved in China's major regional development strategies, such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Hainan Free Trade Zone.

About 70 percent of its operational hotels and 85 percent of its hotels under construction are in second — to fourth-tier cities, according to IHG.