InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) plans on doubling its presence in greater China to more than 250 hotels over the next five years.

This follows the recent opening of InterContinental hotels in both Nanjing and Shanghai and the signing of a deal with HNA Hotels and Resorts in June for five hotels. The group is currently the largest international hotel company in greater China with 131 hotels - equating to 45,940 rooms - open and a further 146 hotels - 47,848 rooms - in development.

IHG CEO, Andy Cosslett, said: "This year we are opening over 30 hotels in greater China. This includes seven InterContinental and seven Crowne Plaza, plus the debut of the Hotel Indigo brand in Shanghai." A recent guideline issued by China's state council confirmed that the Chinese government has established tourism as a key part of its economy, with a total of 25 national and regional development plans in place with tourism as a strategic focus. The Government is also investing US$120bn (£79.5bn, €96.6bn) in its railway network, laying over 85,000km (52,816 miles) of freeway and constructing 97 new airports to upgrade the transport infrastructure across the country.