IHG Hotels & Resorts has renewed its commitment to tourism in Malaysia, where it plans to create more than 800 new jobs this year and double its estate by 2025.
IHG currently has six hotels in the country, offering guests a choice of nearly 2,000 rooms in renowned properties including InterContinental Kuala Lumpur, Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre and Holiday Inn Express Kota Kinabalu City Centre.
The company is busy delivering on its strategy of growing its presence in the market, where a development pipeline of 11 hotels across six brands leaves it ideally placed to expand its portfolio in the next two years, while providing a wide range of employment opportunities.
The return of IHG’s much-loved Crowne Plaza brand will – for the first time in a decade – allow guests in Malaysia to enjoy one of the world’s largest premium hotel brands and its signature work/life blend experience. Crowne Plaza Penang Butterworth Straits City will be the first property to open later this year, ahead of Crowne Plaza Kuala Lumpur City Centre and Crowne Plaza Kota Kinabalu Waterfront.
The company will also introduce three new brands to the market – Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Regent Hotels & Resorts, and Hotel Indigo – while it’s also set to grow its existing brand portfolio, including transforming the grande dame of Penang, Mutiara Beach Resort, into the new InterContinental Penang Resort.
Rajit Sukumaran, Managing Director – South East Asia and Korea, IHG said, “At IHG, we’re very confident about the future of the tourism industry in Malaysia and are working in collaboration with hotel owners to bring wonderful experiences to travellers.
“Domestic and international tourism is returning after the pandemic, and Malaysia is seen as a land of opportunity by everyone at IHG. We recognise the great potential in growing our estate in its fantastic city and resort locations, thereby providing our guests with an even greater opportunity to discover, and rediscover, some truly stunning destinations.”
IHG’s commitment to growth in Malaysia will create 800 new jobs in the country this year, and provide people with the opportunity to develop new skills and build a long and fulfilling career in tourism. In 2021, the industry contributed 23.4% of total employment in the country, a figure that is expected to rise as the recovery continues.
To attract talent from inside and outside the industry, IHG has evolved its recruitment and retention strategy, elevating its focus on people development alongside enhancing other commitments including creating a strong and inclusive culture and providing flexible working conditions.
Earlier this year, it opened the IHG University, which helps its colleagues build their skills, knowledge and capabilities while developing in their roles. This followed the launch of IHG Skills Academy, a world-class virtual training programme that offers free online education and courses for young people to explore a career in hospitality.
Sukumaran added, “Our business and our industry is looking forward to a great future and, with demand increasing and guests returning to our hotels, there’s never been a better time to join IHG and forge a career in hospitality.
“In Malaysia, it’s great to see the progress we’re making with our partnerships with universities and schools, through which we’re attracting young people to the industry. The opportunities we can offer reach far and wide – for instance, we are creating roles that offer our colleagues the chance to be seconded to newly-opened or converted hotels, which provides them with a great chance to further develop their learning and skillsets.
“Anyone who joins IHG can be confident they will have access to best-in-class training and global operations standards, and enjoy being part of a truly diverse and inclusive culture in which we all care for our people, communities and planet.”
