InterContinental set to manage 4,500-plus rooms in China

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is to manage more than 4,500 new rooms in six properties in China's Sichuan province.

The properties will be developed as part of a new $620m (£356m) exhibition complex and will be branded as two InterContinental Hotels, three Holiday Inns and one Express by Holiday Inn.

IHG's deal is with conference developers Chengdu International Exhibition and Convention Group in Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou.

It takes IHG's portfolio to more than 50 hotels in China.

IHG chief executive Andrew Cosslett said that expansion in China lay at the heart of the group's growth strategy.

"This deal marks a major milestone as we move towards meeting our aggressive growth plans and we remain fully committed to maintaining our position as the leading hotel company in China," he explained.

The announcement supports IHG's aim of having 125 hotels in China as part of its bid to add 60,000 rooms to its portfolio by 2008.

• US coffee giant Starbucks has announced it expects profits to rise by 20% over the next three to five years thanks to strong growth in the Chinese market. It saw its fastest year of growth in 2005 thanks to its Eastern expansion, and plans to roll out more stores in Chinese cities during the year, according to the BBC.

By Emily Manson

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