IHG gets new head of development in Australian region

Matthew Tripolone, IHG's new head of development for Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific islands.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has appointed Matthew Tripolone as a head of development of the company’s branch in Australia.

Tripolone is replacing Phil Kasselis who is leaving the company and joining an IHG partner.

Tripolone will be in charge of the growth and development of the company in Australia, . ­

Prior to the change, Tripolone held the position of general manager of Accor Hotels .

In the region, IHG operates 41 units and has another four in the development pipeline. The group runs under the brands InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn and will soon introduce Holiday Inn Express, as well.

"It will be a big 12 months for IHG in this market, with exciting openings such as InterContinental Sydney Double Bay as well as the first Holiday Inn Express in Sydney’s North Ryde, and we are confident that this expansion will continue,” Paul Logan, Senior Vice President of Development at IHG’s for Asia the Middle East and Africa.

IHG operates nine hotel brands, including Holiday Inn, InterContinental Hotels and Crowne Plaza. It has over 4,600 locations in nearly 100 countries worldwide, and another 1,000 hotels in development. IHG partners with some 2,000 franchisees in the U.S.

The group has over 4,700 hotels, either franchised or company-owned, in nearly 100 countries worldwide and has another 1,100 units in the development pipeline.