10 March 2015

IHG Makes Senior Appointment for Africa Franchise Operations

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, announces the appointment of Sandi Macfie to the newly created role of Director, Hotel Performance Support for Africa. Based in Johannesburg, Sandi will lead the operations and performance of IHG's 17 franchised hotels across six countries in Africa.  

A native South African by birth, Sandi joins IHG with 30 years of extensive experience across the hospitality, finance and technology industries. She was most recently Group Director of Revenue in Tsogo Sun Hotels, during which time her background in information technology also put her in good stead to chair the South African Hospitality Technology Forum where she led the development of a next-generation central reservations system for the South African hospitality industry.

Karin Sheppard, Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Australasia, Japan & Korea, and AMEA Franchising, IHG said: “As a company we have placed a large focus on building and strengthening relationships with our franchise partners across our Asia, Africa and Middle East region. By creating this new role, based in South Africa, and bringing Sandi on-board, we will be able to support our franchise operations in Africa more efficiently and effectively benefitting both IHG and our hotel owners.

“Sandi is a market expert having worked extensively with hotel companies across the region throughout her career – with a particular focus on defining and developing their revenue growth strategies. This skill set along with her general hospitality experience will be a huge benefit to IHG as we continue to grow across the market.”

Upon starting at IHG Sandi said “Market sentiments are very positive, with growing tourism numbers and the region seeing more foreign investment. With a strong presence in key cities already established in the region and the strength of IHG’s brand we’re in a good position to maximise this positive outlook."

"I am delighted to be joining the IHG family and look forward to helping drive the performance of our franchise hotels in Africa,” she added.

IHG currently has 30 managed and franchised hotels open on the continent of Africa across five brands: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites. There are a further six hotels in the pipeline, including the first hotel in Ethiopia, Crowne Plaza Addis Ababa. 

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About IHG®

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, HUALUXE® Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, EVEN™ Hotels, Holiday Inn® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®. In January 2015, IHG acquired Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, the world's leading boutique hotel business.

IHG manages IHG® Rewards Club, the world's first and largest hotel loyalty programme with over 84 million members worldwide. The programme was relaunched in July 2013, offering enhanced benefits for members including free internet across all hotels, globally.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,800 hotels and more than 710,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries, with over 1,200 hotels in its development pipeline. Over 350,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices worldwide.

In January 2015 we completed the acquisition of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, adding 62 hotels (11,300 rooms) to our system size and 16 hotels to our development pipeline.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.ihgrewardsclub.com for more on IHG Rewards Club. For our latest news, visit: www.twitter.com/ihg, www.facebook.com/ihg or www.youtube.com/ihgplc.