Latin America: IHG Top Hotel Chain

BY LBC STAFF

UK-based InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is the top hotel chain in Latin America, measured by total rooms in the region, according to a Latin Trade survey of data for 10 leading hotel chains. IHG had a total of 31,782 rooms in Latin America at the end of 2010.

 “We are very pleased to be noted in Latin Trade magazine’s Top Hotel Chains in Latin America rankings,” says Alvaro Diago, Chief Operating Officer, Latin America & Caribbean for IHG - InterContinental Hotels Group. “IHG in essence ‘birthed’ the concept of international hotels in the region, with the first InterContinental hotel opening in 1946. We’ve been in Latin America ever since, and while extremely proud of our heritage, we look forward to our continued growth and expansion.”

France-based Accor came in second, with 28,634 rooms, while Spain-based Sol Melia came in third, with 22,000 rooms.

Marriott International is the leading US hotel chain in Latin America, with 17,000 rooms.  Other major hotel chains in Latin America include Wyndham Hotel Group (14,200 rooms), Starwood Hotels & Resorts (12,753 rooms), Hilton Worldwide (9,159 rooms) and Carlos Hotels Worldwide (6,956 rooms).

The Spanish hotels rank particularly well in Latin America compared with their overall global ranking, Latin Trade shows. Sol Melia, for example, ranks 8^th worldwide, but second in Latin America. Riu Hotels & Resorts ranks 10^th worldwide, but 5^th in Latin America. Barcelo Hotels & Resorts ranks 9^th worldwide, but sixth in Latin America.

All in all, the top ten hotel chains in Latin America had a total of 171,490 rooms in Latin America as of December 31, 2010.

As a result of the growing economies, the hotel chains plan to expand significantly in Latin America the next few years. In Brazil alone, chains expect strong demand from the 2014 World Cup in soccer and 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Latin Trade reports. Rio has about 25,000 hotel rooms that meet International Olympic Committee standards. By 2015, the hotel sector expects to have 34,000 rooms ready, according to SindRio, a syndicate of hotel, bars and restaurants.