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Although IHG recorded global RevPAR growth of 0.9 per cent, it includes a 6.5 per cent fall during the last three months of 2008, and the company has admitted that its forward bookings data shows no sign of improvement heading into 2009.
In the year ending 31 December, IHG increased its estate by 6 per cent with the addition of 34,757 rooms. The company currently has a further 85,000 rooms under construction, 50,000 of which are scheduled to open in 2009.
IHG has also identified the US$1bn (£702m) relaunch of the Holiday Inn brand in 2009 as one of the company's main priorities, with 350 sites already operating under the new standard. Around 220 more sites are expected to be converted during the first quarter of 2009 after the relaunched sites reported a RevPAR increase of 5 per cent.
The company is also looking to reduce regional and central costs by US$30m (£21m) this year, although it plans to continue investing in order to support growth.
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source| www.leisureopportunities.co.uk