How did InterContinental Hotels begin?
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts was founded on April 3, 1946, through an extraordinary partnership between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Juan Trippe, founder of Pan American World Airways. At a White House breakfast in 1945, Roosevelt and Trippe discussed Latin America's urgent need for economic development as part of FDR's "Good Neighbor Policy" to encourage inter-American trade. They concluded that building luxury hotels for business travelers and tourists would attract investment and strengthen relationships. Trippe agreed to form a subsidiary company, and with $25 million in credit from the Export-Import Bank of the United States covering half the project cost, International Hotels Corporation was born. The company was renamed InterContinental in 1947 to reflect its global ambitions. The first hotel, the 85-room Grande Hotel in Belém, Brazil, opened on May 1, 1949, strategically located at a Pan American Airways crossroads to South America and Africa. Despite challenges like hand-washing laundry and a single phone per floor, the hotel turned a profit in its first year and doubled profits in the second year.
What makes InterContinental Hotels unique?
As the world's first international luxury hotel chain, InterContinental pioneered a revolutionary design philosophy that rejected standardization in favor of authentic local immersion. Interior designer Neal Prince, who shaped the brand through the 1960s and '70s, sought inspiration from local art and culture at each destination, ensuring that "when you woke up from jet lag, you felt you were in Paris, or Geneva, or Brazil, or Colombia." This approach made InterContinental synonymous with the jet age's glamour and adventure. Today, the brand's philosophy centers on the belief that travel expands the mind and connects cultures, delivering modern luxury through international standards blended with meaningful cultural experiences. InterContinental properties feature world-class spas, fine-dining restaurants led by award-winning chefs (like Michelin-starred Yan Toh Heen in Hong Kong), versatile event spaces, and concierges who leverage insider knowledge and cultural literacy to connect guests with authentic local experiences.
Where are InterContinental Hotels located?
InterContinental operates over 200 hotels worldwide as of 2023, with a development pipeline representing a nearly 45% increase in portfolio size. The brand initially expanded along Pan Am routes throughout Latin America and the Caribbean in the 1950s, then pioneered luxury hospitality in the Middle East with the legendary InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut in 1961 (the first international hotel group in the region), before expanding across Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Europe in the 1960s and entering the United States in the 1970s. Today you'll find InterContinental properties in iconic global destinations including Paris Le Grand, The Willard Washington DC, Amstel Amsterdam, Bordeaux Le Grand Hotel, Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa, Sydney with harbour views, Rome Ambasciatori Palace, Shanghai Wonderland (world's first quarry hotel), Vienna, Barcelona, London Park Lane, Dubai Festival City, Bangkok, Tokyo, Bali Resort, and the newly opened properties continuing the brand's pioneering spirit worldwide.
What exclusive perks do I receive when booking InterContinental through WhataHotel
Booking through WhataHotel grants you access to IHG Destined benefits at no additional cost – our rates match the best flexible rates available on ihg.com. You'll receive a $100 USD (or equivalent) property credit per stay that can be used for dining, spa treatments, or other eligible services, daily complimentary breakfast for two guests (full breakfast, not just coffee and bagels), upgrade to the next room category subject to availability upon arrival, early check-in and late checkout based on availability (many properties offer guaranteed 2 PM late checkout), a local welcome amenity thoughtfully curated to reflect the destination with personalized note, daily turndown service as appropriate by brand, and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout your stay. Most properties have no minimum stay requirement, though some may require two nights. You'll continue to earn IHG One Rewards points and elite qualifying nights on your stay, and all IHG One Rewards elite benefits apply according to your membership tier.
What can I expect from the InterContinental experience?
InterContinental caters to affluent leisure and business travelers who desire premium, cosmopolitan stays in prominent urban and resort destinations. The brand has evolved to meet the needs of modern luxury travelers (with millennials and Gen Z representing 61% of luxury travelers by 2026) who crave cultural enrichment, expanded knowledge, connection with friends and family, and design that inspires. You can expect culturally enriching experiences with concierges who act as cultural guides with insider knowledge and expertise, intentional flexibility throughout the day to accommodate diverse modern lifestyles, science-based food and beverage initiatives honoring local culinary traditions, NASA-inspired Timeshifter technology to temper jetlag effects, neuroscience-based design by Isabelle Sjovall to enhance restorative spaces, and the Incredible Occasions program to help celebrate personal milestones and gatherings. Many properties feature iconic architecture, state-of-the-art meeting facilities, luxury spas, and award-winning restaurants that have earned Michelin stars.
Are there any special offers at InterContinental properties?
Yes! Many InterContinental properties available through WhataHotel offer "Get a Free Night!" promotions where you can book 3 nights and pay for 2, or book 4 nights and pay for 3. Featured properties with special offers include InterContinental Hayman Island Resort in Australia, InterContinental Perth City Centre, InterContinental Sydney, InterContinental Sydney Double Bay, InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto, InterContinental Vienna, InterContinental Bahrain, InterContinental Dhaka, InterContinental Sao Paulo, and InterContinental Toronto Yorkville. These free night offers are combinable with all IHG Destined benefits including the $100 property credit and daily breakfast. Some of these offers require a one-night non-refundable deposit at booking. Specific offer terms vary by property and season, so contact us for current availability and blackout dates.
What is the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland?
The InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, opened in 2018 as the brand's 200th hotel, represents the pioneering spirit that has defined InterContinental since 1946. This architectural marvel is the world's first quarry hotel, built inside a former 88-meter-deep quarry. The 18-story resort features 16 floors underground and two floors underwater, with the structure hugging the rock face to reimagine the relationship between city and nature. Guests can enjoy rooms carved into the quarry walls with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the waterfall and quarry lake, underwater suites with aquarium views, adventure activities like rock climbing and bungee jumping from the quarry edge, multiple restaurants including an underwater dining venue, a spa built into the rock face, and year-round climate control despite the dramatic setting. This extraordinary property exemplifies how InterContinental continues to push boundaries in hospitality design while honoring each destination's unique characteristics.
What are booking terms and do I earn loyalty points?
Most InterContinental properties have no minimum stay requirement for IHG Destined benefits, though some properties (particularly resorts during peak seasons) may require a 2-night minimum stay. Rates are booked at the best flexible rate and are fully prepaid, including a $10.95 booking fee. Modifications and cancellations are subject to the hotel's specific policies. You will absolutely earn IHG One Rewards points on your stay – bookings made through the IHG Destined program count towards earning elite qualifying nights to help you retain or level up your IHG status. All IHG One Rewards elite benefits apply according to your membership tier. If you participate in the paid InterContinental Ambassador program ($225 annually or 45,000 points), you can stack those benefits with IHG Destined perks at participating properties. The $100 property credit is issued once per stay regardless of length, making it relatively more valuable on shorter stays. If you make separate consecutive bookings for the same hotel, all nights will be combined as one stay with a single credit.
Featured InterContinental Properties Available Through WhataHotel:
United States: InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown (California), InterContinental San Francisco (California), InterContinental Washington D.C. - The Wharf, The Willard InterContinental Washington DC, InterContinental Miami (Florida), InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta (Georgia), InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile (Illinois), InterContinental Boston (Massachusetts), InterContinental Minneapolis-St Paul Airport (Minnesota), InterContinental New York Barclay, Hotel Zamora (St Pete Beach, Florida), Lighthouse Hotel (Key West), Surfcomber Hotel (South Beach Miami)
Caribbean & Latin America: InterContinental Bora Bora & Thalasso (French Polynesia), InterContinental Presidente Cancun Resort (Mexico), InterContinental Presidente Cozumel Resort (Mexico), Presidente InterContinental Mexico City, InterContinental Sao Paulo (Brazil) – Get a Free Night!, InterContinental Cartagena de Indias (Colombia), InterContinental Costa Rica at Multiplaza Mall (Escazu), InterContinental Real Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands)
Canada: InterContinental Toronto Yorkville (Ontario) – Get a Free Night!
Europe: InterContinental Paris - Avenue Marceau (France), InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel (France), InterContinental Bordeaux Le Grand Hotel (France), InterContinental Lyon (France), InterContinental Marseille - Hotel Dieu (France), InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam (Netherlands), InterContinental London Park Lane (UK), Nomad London (UK), InterContinental Edinburgh The George (Scotland), InterContinental Vienna (Austria) – Get a Free Night!, InterContinental Barcelona (Spain), InterContinental Madrid (Spain), InterContinental Prague (Czech Republic), InterContinental Dublin (Ireland), InterContinental Porto-Palacio das Cardosas (Portugal), InterContinental Lisbon (Portugal), InterContinental Cascais-Estoril (Portugal), InterContinental Malta (St. Julians), InterContinental Ljubljana (Slovenia), InterContinental Geneve (Switzerland), Alpengold Hotel Davos (Switzerland), InterContinental Duesseldorf (Germany), Athenaeum InterContinental Athens (Greece)
Middle East: InterContinental Dubai Festival City (UAE), InterContinental Dubai Marina (UAE), InterContinental Fujairah Resort (UAE), InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort & Spa (UAE), InterContinental al Ahsa (Saudi Arabia), InterContinental Doha Beach (Qatar), InterContinental Doha The City (Qatar), InterContinental Bahrain (Manama) – Get a Free Night!, InterContinental Muscat (Oman), David InterContinental Tel Aviv (Israel), InterContinental Jordan (Amman), InterContinental Kyiv (Ukraine)
Asia: InterContinental - ANA Tokyo (Japan), The Strings by InterContinental Tokyo (Japan), InterContinental ANA Beppu Resort & Spa (Japan), InterContinental Osaka (Japan), InterContinental Singapore, InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay, InterContinental Bangkok (Thailand), InterContinental Koh Samui (Thailand), InterContinental Pattaya Resort (Thailand), InterContinental Phuket Resort (Thailand), InterContinental Resort Hua Hin (Thailand), InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun (China), InterContinental Century City Chengdu (China), InterContinental Changsha (China), InterContinental Chengdu Global Center (China), InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City (China), InterContinental Kunming (China), InterContinental Lhasa Paradise (China), InterContinental Nanjing (China), InterContinental Shanghai Puxi Hotel (China), InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland (China), InterContinental Shenzhen (China), InterContinental Suzhou (China), InterContinental Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), InterContinental Jakarta Pondok Indah (Indonesia), InterContinental Resort Bali (Indonesia), InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort (Vietnam), InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 (Vietnam), InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort (Vietnam), InterContinental Dhaka (Bangladesh) – Get a Free Night!
Australia & Pacific: InterContinental Hayman Island Resort (Australia) – Get a Free Night!, InterContinental Perth City Centre (Australia) – Get a Free Night!, InterContinental Sydney (Australia) – Get a Free Night!, InterContinental Sydney Double Bay (Australia) – Get a Free Night!, InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto (Australia) – Get a Free Night!, InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa
Africa: InterContinental Cairo Semiramis (Egypt)