The InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is known for iconic brands Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Six Senses, and, of course, InterContinental. It has a strong presence across the world, though India has emerged as a key market of late. In a freewheeling chat, Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, MEA & Southwest Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, tells Business Today’s Krishna Gopalan how he chooses which brand is ready for which market, the opportunities in India, and a lot more. Edited excerpts:
Q: Which market does India remind you of and at what point in time? What makes it unique?
A: There’s a lot of cultural cross-exposure between India and the Middle East. After all, it is one of the oldest countries from where some of the oldest religions have come. A country that is…