Compare and contrast the THREE different Hotels Groups

InterContinental , Starwood and Accor : AComparative Analysis

Introduction : The current trend in globalization has encouraged and challenged the Hotel Industry , to take steps towards more internationalization , to meet the needs of the changing demographics increased traveling and synthesizing of geographical boundaries and cultures . The expansion of boundaries has forced the company to change the strategic vision so that they come up with effective and appropriate strategic operation and guideline to meet their target and secure their place on the international scene . This requires intensive and in-depth study of the renewed corporate business

and operational strategy . The three dynamic companies adopting this rigorous endeavor are Accor Hotels Group , InterContinental Hotels Group and Starwood Hotels Resorts Worldwide . These three companies have made their mark on the International scene adopting effective strategy and marketing to meet the unique needs of their operation sensitive to needs of the country in which it has merged for expansion of its business

Hotels Background : InterContinental Hotel Group is a multinational company which operates several hotel brands , has its headquarters in Windsor just outside Greater London . It is the largest hotel company by number of rooms . InterContinental Hotels Group , according to the source of hotel industry , the number of hotel rooms in Europe are 6 ,550 ,000 and Americas are 6 ,500 ,000 but only 355 ,000 in Middle East , 485 ,000 in Africa . Moreover , as the 2008 Olympic Game will be held in China (InterContinental Hotels Group ,2007

Accor Hotel Group is the world 's fourth largest hotel group , with more than 4094 properties . It is European leader in hotels and tourism , and global leader in corporate services . It operates in 140 countries with 168 ,500 employees by 2005 . Accor is also one of the global leaders in tourism , travel , casinos , restaurants and the provision of corporate and public institution services . It offers to its individual and corporate clients nearly 40 years of expertise in its two core businesses : Hotels and Services (About Accor ,2006

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide is one of the world 's largest hotel and leisure companies , with more than 845 properties in some 100 countries . It started in 1930 , formed by the real estate investment firm Starwood Capital in USA . In 1993 it changed its focus to hotel industry business . In 1998 Starwood purchased ITT Corporation , the Casino Hotel Group a company seven times its size (Starwood Hotels Resorts Worldwide , Inc ,2007

Location Strategy : Location strategy is integral to the operation of the hotel management and performance . The category of the hotel determines its location , so that the facility can get competitive advantage and full opportunity for business growth and expansion . The three companies InterContinental , Accor and Starwood are international companies with their hotels based worldwide at different levels of scale addressing the need of different category of customers .Customer is essential to the hotels aiming at internationalization . The hotel group makes sure that there are enough customers in the market when they decide to select the location . The hotel companies must conduct...