InterContinental Held on Tight to Top Spot among Hotel Groups in 2006

The 10 leading hotel groups cumulated growth in supply by around 100,000 rooms and among them, the first 6 posted growth by more than 10,000 rooms each, as the sneak preview of the Worldwide Hotel Activity Report by MKG Consulting showed.

MKG Consulting official 2007 ranking of groups and hotel brands worldwide showed that InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) remains the hotel industry leader worldwide, with more than 3,700 hotels and 550,000 rooms worldwide. The group is increasing its lead on its immediate competitor, the Wyndham group (ex-Cendant).

Although it displays a certain amount of vitality, the ranking of brands shows no major changes. Express by Holiday Inn, the 7th ranking brand worldwide, climbed up a couple of notches thanks to 7.5 percent growth in its supply.

Quality posted 6 percent growth in its supply and is thus positioned 11th in the ranking. Two brands in the Accor group, Motel 6 and Mercure, are making slow progress in the ranking. The brand Crowne Plaza posts growth in its supply by 15.6 percent and thus climbs a rung to 19th position.

The outlook for growth is still considerable. The race to Asia is on. China and India are the priority targets, and the actors are trying to take their positions as quickly as possible.

Movements of capital intensified greatly in the sector in 2006, and in 2007 this will not let up. Hotel groups are pursuing their sales programs, investment funds are increasingly at hand, and the rumors of new large-scale acquisitions are persistent.