Denham, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, 2013-10-09 — /travelprnews.com/ — InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world’s largest hotel companies, has concluded a multi-development franchise agreement with Bierwirth & Kluth Hotelmanagement GmbH to develop five hotels across Germany. The first hotel under the agreement – Holiday Inn Hamburg – City Nord – has already been signed.
This is IHG’s sixth multiple development agreement (MDA) with a partner in Germany, continuing the momentum of the growth of its brands in Europe. The hotels signed under this agreement will include up to four of IHG’s hotel brands – Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza®, Holiday Inn® and Holiday Inn Express®, giving the franchisee the flexibility to match the right brand with the right location.
Robert Shepherd, Chief Development Officer for Europe said: “Germany is a priority market for IHG and we see significant headroom for growth there. MDA agreements are proving to be a success in Germany and we’re really excited to be working with Bierwirth & Kluth Hotel management GmbH for the first time on this latest deal. We remain committed to working with experienced and reputable investor and owner partners for the long-term in order to achieve high-quality, sustainable growth.”
The first hotel in the portfolio will be Holiday Inn Hamburg – City Nord, a newly constructed 297-room hotel featuring IHG’s Open Lobby Concept which is scheduled to open in quarter three of 2016. As the first IHG hotel to serve Hamburg Airport, Holiday Inn Hamburg – City Nord is set to attract a mix of leisure and business guests due to its prime location in one of Hamburg’s best-known business parks.
Klaus D. Kluth, Managing Director of Bierwirth & Kluth Hotelmanagement GmbH said: “We are very pleased about the new multi development agreement with IHG. Within this strategic partnership we are planning further hotel projects together throughout Germany over the coming years with a particular focus on new builds. IHG are a very dynamic partner and we are proud to be expanding our total portfolio through their internationally recognised and leading hotel brands.”
IHG plans to double the number of its hotels in Germany by 2020. IHG currently has 61 hotels open in Germany with a further 16 in the pipeline*. Its expansion will be driven by growth in a number of identified primary and secondary cities across Germany.
*Figures as at 30th June 2013.
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Media enquiries:
UK: Please contact Laura Baker on +44 1895512820 or on laura.baker@ihg.com
Germany: Please contact Sophia Vassilev on +49-30-726146-722 or on sva@fischerappelt.de
Notes to Editors:
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of nine hotel brands, including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo® Hotels, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express® Hotels, Staybridge Suites® Hotels, Candlewood Suites® Hotels, EVEN™ Hotels and HUALUXE™ Hotels & Resorts.
IHG manages IHG® Rewards Club, the world’s first and largest hotel loyalty programme with over 74 million members worldwide. The programme was relaunched in July 2013, offering enhanced benefits for members including free internet for Elites across all hotels, globally.
IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,600 hotels and 678,000 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.
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