Activist investor Marcato pushes InterContinental Hotels to consider a merger with a rival | telegraph.co.uk

An American hedge fund has stepped up attempts to persuade hotelier InterContinental Hotels, which runs the Crowne Plaza, and Holiday Inn brands, to consider a blockbuster merger with a big rival. "Each of these companies would be a fit for IHG by broadening its geographic footprint in the most desirable hospitality markets, expanding chain scale diversification, increasing asset-light earnings, realizing cost savings, improving system fund...