Hotels & Resorts Promotion - IHG

IHG HOTELS & RESORTS´ CULTURE OF FIRSTS

IHG Hotels and Resorts prides itself on being a company of firsts, so much so that it is now second nature, keeping it on course for long-term success.

Last month, HM exclusively broke the news that Leanne Harwood, IHG Hotels and Resorts’ SVP Managing Director of Japan, Australasia and Pacific, had been appointed the first female President in the history of the Accommodation Association. The ground-breaking move has been met with widespread acclaim, with Harwood delighted to be a trailblazer for women in our industry.

“I’ve worked hard to drive change from the inside and have chosen to take on increasingly senior leadership roles,” she said. “In so doing, I hope I’ve played a part in making it easier for future female leaders.”

Being the first to achieve a milestone is clearly in Harwood’s – and IHG’s – DNA. Despite the many and varied challenges of the past 18months, the list of ‘firsts’ for the company in this market appears almost endless and is something of which they can rightly feel proud.

IHG ranks first amongst its competition in terms of Australasianhotel signings over the past 12 months, taking a share of almost half of all hotel signings among the big players. Moreover, the company’s share of all conversions has surpassed a whopping 80%, showing the value independents place on the power of its enterprise and brands. This leadership in signings over the years has now culminated in record openings for the group.

“We keep beating our record for the biggest year of openings on record,” explained Harwood. “We said it last year, this year, and next year looks like it will be even bigger. It all just goes to show the confidence that our hotel owners have in IHG, and the future of our industry.”

An artist's impression of InterContinental Parramatta

In keeping with the theme, Australia has built its reputation as one of IHG’s destinations of choice to launch new brands, and this was the first market selected to launch two of its most recent family additions– voco and Vignette Collection. The reception for voco Gold Coast was supremely positive following its opening in 2018, as it was for Hotel Xin Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, announced in August as one of the first Vignette Collection properties in the world.

IHG also made headlines with the first luxury hotel in GreaterWestern Sydney – InterContinental Parramatta – which is timely as the world's oldest luxury hotel brand celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. It can also claim firsts with Kimpton Sydney, which will become the first Kimpton hotel in the Southern Hemisphere; and Holiday InnWerribee, Australia’s first next next-gen iteration of the brand.

The list goes on, and it isn’t restricted to the company’s growth and brands.

Everyone at IHG is really encouraged to develop personally and professionally.

Jael Fischer, IHG Hotels and Resorts

This has been exemplified by IHG being the first company in Australia to accredit its entire hotel General Manager and corporate leadership teams as Mental Health First Aiders and roll out R U OK?’s ‘MateshipManual’ to all hotels. It also became the first to introduce ‘my Benefits’– an internal program which formalises flexible working arrangements and benefits for hotel and corporate colleagues.

“We’re proud to have taken the opportunity to be the first to do this and lead the change for our people,” continued Harwood. “A few years back, who would have thought the industry would embrace formal flexible working in hotels in such a big way?”

People are certain to remain at the top of IHG’s agenda as the recovery takes shape, with the talent crisis expected to hit the industry even harder as national restrictions ease, creating new challenges for hotels just as guests are ready to walk through their doors again. But it seems IHG is well prepared.

Diversity, equity and inclusion is a huge focus for IHG, which has global and regional DE&I Councils dedicated to developing its people at a time when creating career pathways for them has never been more important.

Meanwhile, Harwood is busy building a formidable leadership team ready to support owners and hotels as regional, interstate, and, finally, international travel comes back. Take this month’s HM cover stars MattTripolone and Jael Fischer. Matt was offered the opportunity to grow and develop his career by moving from the VP Development Australasiarole to an equivalent position in Dubai before returning to Sydney as Managing Director – Australasia and Pacific. Jael has progressed from Manager to Senior Manager, and on to Director, DevelopmentAustralasia and Pacific in less than four years and is now one of the few senior female developers in Australia.

“Everyone at IHG is really encouraged to develop personally and professionally, and to always feel like you have a voice,” Fischer said.

“I’ve loved every moment of my journey so far, and I’m looking forward to clocking up our next ‘first’ as we work as a team and navigate our way through the recovery.”