IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) signed a management contract with Taiwan-based E United Group to manage a 650-room Crowne Plaza Kaohsiung E-Da World. This latest addition to IHG’s portfolio, slated to open by end of 2009, will be the first managed Crowne Plaza hotel in Taiwan and will make IHG the largest international hotel group in Taiwan with a total of more than 1,200 rooms.

As the second largest city in Taiwan, Kaohsiung is the centre of Taiwan’s shipbuilding, manufacturing, refining and transportation industries. Crowne Plaza Kaohsiung E-Da World is located at the famous tourist spot, Guang-Yin Mountain, Kaohsiung City. The property will have full service facilities with five restaurants, two ballrooms and ten function rooms.

“IHG maintains its commitment to long-term growth in the Greater China region,” said Keith Barr, chief operating officer, IHG Greater China. “Consumers love our brand and our relationship with our business partners is second to none.  These are the primary reasons for growth in this region.”

Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, the fastest growing brand in Asia Pacific with 67 hotels in existence and another 63 in the pipeline, delivers comprehensive meeting-focused products and services to ensure a smooth planning process and exceptional meeting experience for guests. Crowne Meetings Directors, who are dedicated meetings professionals, provide clients a single point of contact to help manage every aspect of their meeting events - from the pre-planning through to post-evaluation. These Crowne Meetings Directors are certified by eCornell, Cornell University's online professional development subsidiary, and ensure a two-hour response guarantee. This has made Crowne Plaza the Most Improved Brand of the Year according to the Business Development Research Consultant (BDRC) Asia Pacific Hotel Business Guest Survey 2008.

E-Da World, located in Kaohsiung County, is the biggest mass development project across Taiwan. The development includes hotels, shopping malls, a theme park, a university and various real estate areas. Upon its completion at the end of 2009, E-Da World will be one of Taiwan’s top destinations.

“Our shared vision and the success of the Crowne Plaza brand around the world brings us to E-Da World, and we believe that IHG’s managing expertise will definitely raise the bar in the local hospitality industry” said I-Shou Lin, founder of the E United Group.

IHG’s current Taiwan portfolio includes Holiday Inn East Taipei, Holiday Inn Express Taoyuan and Holiday Inn Express Taichung Park.  Having been in Greater China for 25 years, IHG has become the region’s largest international hotel group with 117 hotels open and more than 100 in the pipeline. Greater China has recently surpassed the United Kingdom to become IHG’s second largest market in the world by number of rooms.