By James Wilkinson in Hong Kong

Despite the global economic crisis, the hotel industry is continuing to expand like never before, with one million rooms set to be built around the world by 2013.

One quarter of them will be run by InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), which launched its latest brand for Asia Pacific, Hotel Indigo, in Hong Kong today (October 15).

IHG has launched Indigo Hotels in Asia Pacific

“It’s the right brand for these times,” chief executive – Asia Pacific, Peter Gowers, told SpiceNews. “Hotel Indigo really meets the next generation of customers in Asia Pacific who demand a stylish, individual experience with out pretentiousness.”

While the first location of a Hotel Indigo in Asia Pacific is yet to be announced, Gowers said a property would be built within the next 18 months in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore or Tokyo. There are currently 19 Hotel Indigo properties around the world (the first opened in Atlanta four years ago) and more than 60 in the development pipeline.

Hotel Indigo will sit between Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza in the IHG brand family and will be targeted at both leisure and business travellers. The first hotel outside the US is set to open at London’s Paddington Station within months.

While there will be no emphasis on MICE facilities as such, Hotel Indigo properties will be an attractive proposition for conference delegates and leisure travellers “focused on getting out and seeing the city”, Gowers said.

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