HILTON HOTELS CORPORATION has emerged as 2008's fastest-growing hotel company, adding nearly 300 properties over the year to take its total room count above 500,000.
However, it still has a long way to go to catch the world leader, Britain's InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), which has more than 600,000 rooms on its books. IHG has topped the charts - compiled by France's MKG Hospitality - since 2004, and with 250,000 additional rooms in the pipeline it looks set to stay in pole position. Construction lead-times mean that growth is likely to continue, albeit more slowly, this year and next, says MKG director of development Vanguelis Panayotis.
The top 10 are IHG, Wyndham, Marriott, Hilton, Accor, Choice, Best Western, Starwood, Carlson and Global Hyatt.
- IHG-owned Holiday Inn has been appointed "offi cial hotel services provider" by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG). The company will advise on the planning and operation of the athletes' village and, along with sister brands, will provide accommodation and meeting rooms for LOCOG in the run-up to the Games.