Azanis Shahila Aman
KUALA LUMPUR: IHG Hotels & Resorts plans to create more than 800 new jobs this year and double its estate in Malaysia by 2025.
IHG managing director for Southeast Asia and Korea Rajit Sukumaran said the domestic and international tourism was returning after the pandemic, and Malaysia was 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," said Sukumuran.
IHG currently has six hotels in the country, offering guests a choice of nearly 2,000 rooms in renowned properties.
This includes InterContinental Kuala Lumpur, Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre and Holiday Inn Express Kota Kinabalu City Centre.
IHG said it was busy delivering on its strategy of growing its presence in the market, where a development pipeline of 11 hotels across six brands left it ideally placed to expand its portfolio in the next two years.
"This will provide a wide range of employment opportunities," it added.
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.
IHG said it would introduce three new brands to the market.
This includes Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Regent Hotels & Resorts, and Hotel Indigo.
"We also set to grow our existing brand portfolio, including transforming the grande dame of Penang, Mutiara Beach Resort, into the new InterContinental Penang Resort," it said.
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.
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.
Sukumaran said with demand increasing and guests returning to its hotels, there had 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," he added.