IHG ramps up hotel reopenings, posts 76% drop in May room revenue

[BENGALURU] InterContinental Hotels Group Plc on Tuesday posted a 76 per cent slump in average room revenue in May due to coronavirus lockdowns, a slight improvement from April, as the Holiday Inn-owner accelerates the reopening of its properties.

The UK-based company said comparable Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR), a key gauge of performance for the hotel industry, is expected to fall 75 per cent for the second quarter overall. It had reported an 80 per cent slump in RevPAR in April.

However, IHG, which operates Crowne Plaza, Regent and Hualuxe chain of hotels, said the pace of reopening has continued to accelerate through the second quarter, with only 10 per cent of the global estate currently still closed.

"The small but steady improvements in RevPAR through the second quarter are mostly attributed to the Americas franchised estate and the Greater China region," IHG said.

Occupancy levels have improved to over 40 per cent in the United States, it added.

Shares in IHG, which have skidded 31 per cent so far this year, were down 1 per cent by 0711 GMT.

A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU

Tuesday, 12 pm

Property Insights

Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond.

Sign Up

IHG has said that the coronavirus crisis is the biggest challenge the hotel industry has ever faced, with travel drawing to a near halt amid strict lockdowns to contain the spread of the disease.

IHG said it had $2 billion in available liquidity as at June 26. Its rival and Premier Inn owner Whitbread in May sought 1.01 billion pounds (S$1.73 billion) in fresh cash from shareholders to get through the crisis.

REUTERS