InterContinental Hotels hits mobile tipping point

Mobile is driving more traffic to InterContinental Hotels websites than desktop computers, the hotel giant disclosed today.

Mobile is driving more traffic to InterContinental Hotels websites than desktop computers, the hotel giant disclosed today.

The group reported a 7% rise in overall digital revenue in the first half of the year over the same period in 2015, with mobile revenue up by 32%.

IHG saw half year pre-tax profits fall by $60 million to $298 million, mainly due to a $175 million exceptional gain on the sale of the InterContinental Paris Le Grand in May last year.

Revenue fell by $77 million to $838 million in the six months to June 30, again due to the disposal of owned hotels in the equivalent period in 2015.

The group signed for its second Kimpton outside the Americas region in Paris and opened a second Hotel Indigo in Asia in Singapore as part of a plan to expand boutique-style properties.

A total of 35,000 rooms were signed, taking the company’s pipeline of future rooms up to 222,000 worldwide.

Chief executive Richard Solomons said: “We have driven another excellent signings performance, which includes a second hotel for Kimpton outside the Americas, in Paris.

“We enhanced our loyalty proposition, continued to develop our technological capabilities and grew our digital channels, supporting our unique owner proposition.

“We have also remained focused on innovating and evolving our brand portfolio, which includes launching the latest phase of the Crowne Plaza refresh in the US.

“The fundamentals for our industry, and particularly for IHG as one of the largest branded players, remain compelling. This backdrop, combined with our winning strategy and the strength of our business model, will enable us to deliver sustainable growth into the future.

“Despite the uncertain environment in some markets, we remain confident in the outlook for the remainder of the year.”