China was the fastest growing market in the Asia-Pacific region for the UK-based InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) in 2006, according to company statistics.

The nation is the second-largest region for planned new hotels worldwide, after the United States, with 57 hotels in the pipeline.

The world's leading hotel group by number of rooms, IHG added 135 hotels with 18,713 rooms to its portfolio in 2006.

"The growth was driven by continued expansion in the United States and China," the company said.

Of its total number of rooms, 8,303 are in the United States, and 9,229 are in Asia-Pacific, of which 3,628 are in China.

In revenue per available room, an important index in measuring a hotel's business, China's 12.1 percent growth rate was the fastest in the Asia-Pacific region. The region as a whole increased 10.2, while the US was up 9.2 percent.

"2006 was a successful year for IHG on all fronts. We outperformed the market and saw a record level of signings for IHG brands," said Andrew Cosslett, chief executive officer of IHG.

A. Patrick Imbardelli, chief executive of IHG Asia-Pacific, continued to be optimistic about the Chinese market.

"IHG's market-leading position in China has led to further strong growth," he said

In China, 39 more hotels were added to the company's portfolio last year, including eight InterContinental hotels, five Crowne Plaza facilities, 13 Holiday Inn sites and 13 Holiday Inn Express hotels.

IHG started this year with the signing of its 125th hotel in the nation, the Crowne Plaza Sun Palace Beijing.

This February, IHG established the IHG Academy in Chongqing, its second hospitality-training center, following the launch of IHG Academy in Shanghai in September 2006.

IHG has 23,000 employees in China and plans to recruit 20,000 more over the next three years, the company said.

Source: China Daily