IHG's InterContinental to join Sri Lanka hotel market

InterContinental Hotels Group has signed a management contract with Pearl Grand Tower Hotel to bring its flagship InterContinental brand to Colombo, Sri Lanka. 

The 307-room InterContinental Colombo is slated to open in 2019 in the commercial district Colombo 3. This 480,000 square-foot development is expected to be the tallest hotel tower in the city with 42 floors. The new InterContinental property will be close to international and domestic airports and the city center. 

“We are excited to introduce our global luxury brand InterContinental Hotels and Resorts to the beautiful island country, Sri Lanka, in partnership with the esteemed Pearl Grand Tower Hotel (Private) Limited.

In a statement, Sudeep Jain, VP of development for Southwest Asia, IHG, said that the move was in line with the company's strategy to grow IHG’s footprint across South West Asia, and expand the presence of the InterContinental brand in key cities and resort destinations in the region.

The signing follows the opening of IHG's 1,000th hotel in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa, according to a report from Hotelier Middle East. InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort in Vietnam has 459 guestrooms, suites and villas. These two hotels opened as part of IHG's plans to open 321 hotels with more than 63,500 guestrooms in EMEAA.