IHG creates India focused command to tap growth opportunities

Global hospitality major InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) today announced structural changes in its Indian operation by putting it under a new country-specific command to be based at Gurgaon to focus on the growth opportunities here.

Earlier, the Indian operation was reporting to IHG's wider regional office based in Dubai.

As a part of the overall country strategy, IHG's Indian operations will now report to its Vice President Operations South West Asia Douglas Martell, who will be based in Gurgaon.

Commenting on the development, Martell said: "The new structure will ensure IHG has a stronger platform to build our business across the country. It offers more support to our growing hotel system and also makes for an attractive proposition for our owning community".

The move will streamline operations and ensure that the team can focus purely on India, the company said in a statement.

The senior leadership team of South West Asia consisting its Regional Vice President and Sales and Marketing Gopal Rao, Director Hotel Openings Shankar Sreekumar and Head of Corporate Affairs and Strategic Partnership Kadambini Mittal would now report to Martell.

IHG also said its newly appointed Regional Vice President of Human Resources, Kaval Verma, who is also Regional Vice President Finance, along with Regional Vice President Finance and Business Support Venkatesh Gomatam will also report to Martell.

IHG currently has 13 hotels offering 2,334 rooms in 9 cities across India. It includes one InterContinental, five Crowne Plaza, six Holiday Inn, one Holiday Inn Express.

The hospitality major has 46 hotels totalling 9,634 rooms in the development pipeline.

IHG currently has over 675,000 rooms in more than 4,600 hotels in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world.