InterContinental Hotels Group Launches its 150th IHG Academy

InterContinental Hotels Group has celebrated the launch of its 150th IHG Academy in China.

The global IHG Academy Programme partners with community organisations and education providers in local markets, to offer skills development and improve employment prospects of the local population. The IHG Academy Programme has grown rapidly since its inception and now operates in 37 countries around the globe.

In China, where the programme began in 2006, the 150th IHG Academy is being delivered with Pu'er University of South West China's Yunnan Province. The university has partnered with Crowne Plaza Xishuangbanna to train and develop hospitality and tourism managers and develop the right skills to support IHG's rapid growth in China.

"At IHG we believe that hotels can make a real contribution to society and the IHG Academy enables us to help build sustainable communities globally," said Richard Solomons, CEO IHG. "With our leading size and international scale, IHG can give a chance for better employment prospects for people who may otherwise not have entered our industry. People in the IHG Academy come from many backgrounds and through this programme they are able to experience the diverse range of jobs to be found in hotels."

Since 2006, more than 10,000 people worldwide have benefited from the IHG Academy. They come from all walks of life, ranging from university graduates through to disadvantaged young people. IHG Academy provides participants with skills and real life experience of working in a hotel, to improve their chances of finding a job in the hotel sector and in some cases, secure a job in an IHG hotel.

The programme also provides real benefits to IHG hotels by creating a pool of skilled and motivated individuals who are passionate about delivering outstanding service for guests.

"At our heart we are a people business. As we continue to grow, we will continue to invest in the IHG Academy globally, making a meaningful difference to the communities in which we operate, our guests, hotels and the industry at large," said Solomons.

With its extensive global hotel network, IHG will be creating roughly 90,000 new jobs around the world by 2014, as its robust business growth strategy keeps pace with the rising global travel demand.