IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms, is a popular choice for developers in the hottest primary market in the U.S. – New York City. The company’s hotel brands have the fourth largest presence in New York City among major hotel chain companies and the largest midscale chain presence in the market with over 4,000 rooms – more than 1,600 above the next largest competitor.

IHG also has the largest pipeline of new midscale hotels under construction and in planning. Both Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express lead their respective segments in the development pipeline in the New York City market.   Read more

Soon, smoking will no longer be allowed at Walt Disney Company’s 22 Orlando hotels and time-share resorts. The company is imposing the ban effective June 1. It currently permits smoking at designated outdoor areas. The theme park’s spokesman Jacob DiPietre said the transition will allow Disney to better accommodate the increasing number of guests requesting nonsmoking hotel rooms. He said the ban follows a 2000 measure that restricted smoking throughout Disney’s theme and water parks, limiting smoking to designated areas. Guests caught smoking after the ban could face cleaning surcharges up to $500.