IHG Sets Sights on Supporting Tourism Growth in Mexico

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG] announced its further support of global efforts to boost tourism among world leaders’ priorities focused on growth and employment through the participation of Kirk Kinsell, president, the Americas, IHG in a trade mission with the British Prime Minister to Mexico.

With 120 hotels currently open in Mexico, IHG is the country’s largest hotel company by hotel count and number of rooms. Mexico welcomed 23.4 million international visitors in 2011 and continues to see year-on-year growth, ranking second behind the United States as the top regional destination for international travellers. The aim of the whole country is to take Mexico from No. 10 to the world’s No. 5 Top Tourism Destination by 2018, as outlined in its National Tourism Agreement.  

IHG has 40 hotels in the development pipeline; five new hotels expected to open by the end of 2012; and four recent signings. New hotels added to the system in the next three years are expected to add 1,650 new jobs to the local economy in addition to the 15,200 employees already working across the IHG family of brands in Mexico.  

IHG currently has 10 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts (2,842 rooms); 17 Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts (3,264 rooms); 53 Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts (7,556 rooms); 37 Holiday Inn Express® hotels (5,077 rooms); and three Staybridge Suites® properties (312 rooms) in Mexico.

As IHG continues its growth strategy in emerging markets like Mexico, there is a focus on strengthening the economic prospects of the communities in which IHG operates through a unique program, IHG Academy. Through the program, hotels work with community and educational institutions to give future employees real-world hospitality experience. This raises job skills and creates economic opportunity for our hotels while creating a pipeline of prepared and engaged potential talent.

IHG has two IHG Academy programs in Mexico, which operate in partnership with the Youth Career Initiative (YCI). These programs support marginal communities by offering skills development and training opportunities, including work placement in hotels such as Presidente InterContinental Mexico and Presidente InterContinental Puerto Vallarta. IHG Academy also benefits the community by offering improved job prospects and a stronger ability to support family. Nearly 50 participants have been involved in the program with 15 currently employed by IHG hotels.