TRENDING : Q1 REPORT
IHG CEO STEPS DOWN amid strong Q1 earnings
By DAVID EISEN
The Intercontinental Hotel at Avenue in Bellevue , Wash ., is slated to open at the end of 2023 .
IHG CEO Keith Barr won ' t see a 31st year with the company he has been with for three decades . Barr is stepping down from the top role as of June 30 , to be succeeded by current IHG CEO of the Americas , Elie Maalouf . The announcement was made concurrent with the release of InterContinental Hotels
Group ' s first-quarter earnings . Barr cited personal reasons related to spending more time with his family as reason for the decision . Barr is American but since being appointed CEO in 2017 , succeeding Richard Solomons , has lived in the UK where IHG ' s headquarters are located . His previous positions within the company were also accompanied by overseas living and travel . He was IHG CEO of China of Greater China from 2009 to 2013 .
“ After a long time living abroad , now is the right time for me and my family to return to the U . S .,” Barr said in a statement . “ I am proud of the strong position that IHG is in today , thanks to the investments we have made to transform every aspect of our business , deliver for our guests and owners , and grow and operate our brands in the right way around the world . I ’ m excited for what lies ahead for IHG and having worked so closely together , to see Elie lead the business and build on all he has achieved in the Americas .”
Under Barr ' s leadership , IHG has expanded through both M & A and organic growth , especially in the higher-end chain scales , evidenced by its acquisitions of hotel brands Regent and Six Senses and launches of voco and Vignette Collection .
30 hotelsmag . com June May 2023