InterContinental Hotels Corporation, one of the world’s largest international hotel groups, concentrates on areas of the world where they need for travel facilities is acute.  This policy applied both to the emerging counties which need hotels to attract tourists and businessmen and long established major destinations which need additional hotels if they are to keep pace with the growth of travel.

            The beginnings of InterContinental Hotels go back to 1945, when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the State Department wished to assist in strengthening the economies of the countries of Latin America. However, the lack of adequate hotels in those countries discouraged business and tourist travel.

            Pan American World Airways, Inc., the leading carrier between the United States and Latin America, was asked to make a survey of the situation. Juan T. Trippe, then President of Pan Am Airlines, enlisted the assistance of the number of prominent hotel men in making a study. Although the results of the survey showed a definite need for hotels, no United States company was, at that time, prepared to enter the foreign field.

            Mr. Trippe decided Pan Am Airlines would assume the task. A staff of hotel experts was organized together in the formation of the InterContinental Hotels Corporation was formed as a wholly-owned subsidiary in 1946 of Pan Am Airlines. For the next several years the company’s efforts were confined to the Latin America and the Caribbean markets, and by 1960 there were 11 hotels in those areas.

            In December of 1961, the now famous Hotel Phoenicia InterContinental was opened by Neal Prince in Beirut, Lebanon, marking the company’s first venture outside Latin America. During this same period, Mr. Prince hired the now famous Charles R. Alvey Product and Graphic Designer to create the new trade mark image for InterContinental Hotel, which is now known by the letter “I” embedded within an oval circle to represent that InterContinental Hotels encompass all areas of the world. Even to this day, with small modifications, Mr. Alvey’s graphic image remains one of the strongest branding images that are recognized throughout the world to this day.  By 1970’s, InterContinental Hotels were located on all six continents.

            It remains an InterContinental rule, derived by Neal Prince directive for designing each Hotel, while being a model of modern efficiency in all departments, each Hotel must reflect the décor of the locale which was an innovative at the time, so there is need for large amounts of locally manufactured fabrics and furniture. An example of Mr. Prince’s directive influenced a “small”, family-operated furniture factory named Daou et Fils, who was contracted by Mr. Prince to supply the furniture for the Hotel Phoenicia InterContinental Hotel. By the 1970’s, Daou et Fils factory was thriving company supplying the Lebanese market and exporting to the entire Middle East.

            In choosing the personnel for key positions, InterContinental selects those who have demonstrated exceptional ability, a willingness to acclimate to foreign assignments, a knowledge of languages, and an interest in the people; and cultures of various lands. Since 1960’s, InterContinental provides on-the-job training by means of local hotel training programs and Cornell University School of Hotel Administration seminars conducted by senior members of the Hotel School faculty.

            In 1959, Mr. Trippe assigned the Chairman of the Board to John B. Gates, which remained the Chairman of the Board of InterContinental Hotels Corporation until 1971. In 1961 Jim Potter became the Manager of the Hotel Accounting and remained with the InterContinental Hotels until 1992. Mr. Gates hired Max Hampton to its press and public relations staff to work full time to ensure continuous press cover.

President of InterContinental Hotels is Robert Huyot, a professional hotelier with over 30 years’ experience in the United States and abroad. Robert Huyot was the President and General Manager of New York’s Hotel Carlyle for 16 years prior to joining InterContinental Hotel in 1962. Robert Huyot became the Chairman of the Board of InterContinental Hotel in 1971, until 1972. In 1972, Hans Sternik remained at the helm until 1987. During 1987, InterContinental Hotel underwent a corporate reorganization, by which the Hotel was decentralized from its New York Headquarters to an organizational structure of three regional operational areas:

·         The Americas/Pacific Division

·         Middle East/Africa Division

·         Europe Division

With the elimination of the various support staff members and in-house professional services, such as Public Relations, Interior Designers and Marketing Departments, within the executive offices in New York were to be outsourced by consultants and Independent Contractors to reduce overhead. At this point, Mr. Prince was at the age that he was able to retire from InterContinental Hotel Corporation from a Vice President position within the Executive Office to become a Independent Professional Interior Designer consultant and contractor with the various InterContinental Hotel properties until 1992.  

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