2013-01-14 — /travelprnews.com/ — IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s leading hospitality companies, today celebrates the launch of its 150th IHG Academy in China.
The global IHG Academy Programme partners with community organisations and education providers in local markets, to offer skills development and improve employment prospects of the local population. The IHG Academy Programme has grown rapidly since its inception and now operates in 37 countries around the globe.
In China, where the programme began in 2006, the 150th IHG Academy is being delivered with Pu’er University of South West China’s Yunnan Province. The university has partnered with Crowne Plaza Xishuangbanna to train and develop hospitality and tourism managers and develop the right skills to support IHG’s rapid growth in China.
“At IHG we believe that hotels can make a real contribution to society and the IHG Academy enables us to help build sustainable communities globally,” said Richard Solomons, CEO IHG. “With our leading size and international scale, IHG can give a chance for better employment prospects for people who may otherwise not have entered our industry. People in the IHG Academy come from many backgrounds and through this programme they are able to experience the diverse range of jobs to be found in hotels.”
Since 2006, more than 10,000 people worldwide have benefited from the IHG Academy. They come from all walks of life, ranging from university graduates through to disadvantaged young people. IHG Academy provides participants with skills and real life experience of working in a hotel, to improve their chances of finding a job in the hotel sector and in some cases, secure a job in an IHG hotel.
The programme also provides real benefits to IHG hotels by creating a pool of skilled and motivated individuals who are passionate about delivering outstanding service for guests.
Solomons continued: “At our heart we are a people business. As we continue to grow, we will continue to invest in the IHG Academy globally, making a meaningful difference to the communities in which we operate, our guests, hotels and the industry at large.”
With the most extensive global hotel network, IHG will be creating 90,000 new jobs around the world by 2014, as its robust business growth strategy keeps pace with the rising global travel demand.
Sarah Wu
Hill & Knowlton (China) Public Relations Co. Ltd
Tel: +86 21 5109 7070 ext. 235
sarah.wu@hkstrategies.com
Rosalind Jeffcoat
Hill + Knowlton Strategies (UK)
+44 207 413 3344
rosalind.jeffcoat@hkstrategies.com
Notes to Editors:
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with nine hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites®, EVEN™ Hotels and HUALUXE™ Hotels & Resorts. IHG also manages Priority Club® Rewards, the world’s first and largest hotel loyalty programme with over 69 million members worldwide.
IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,500 hotels and more than 672,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories. With more than 1,000 hotels in its development pipeline, IHG expects to recruit around 90,000 people into additional roles across its estate over the next few years.
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.
Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.priorityclub.com for more on Priority Club Rewards. For our latest news, visit www.ihg.com/media, www.twitter.com/ihg, www.facebook.com/ihg or www.youtube.com/ihgplc.
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IHG celebrates 150th IHG Academy Programme launch in Beijing, China. Attending event are (left to right): George Turner, IHG General Counsel; Cheng Wenzhang, Principal Pu’er University; Richard Solomons, IHG Chief Executive; Zhang Rungang, Chairman China Tourist Hotel Association; Keith Barr, IHG CEO Greater China