5 Minutes With Andy Cosslett, IHG Chief | hotelsmag.com
At the 2008 IHG Americas Investors & Leadership Conference in Los Angeles, IHG Chief Executive Andy Cosslett took time to meet with members of various media outlets and answer questions about the company, its brands and the business moving forward. Question: Is it realistic to realize incoming IAHI Chairman Tom Corcoran’s stated goal of re-imaging Holiday Inn as an upscale brand? Cosslett: Moving Holiday Inn up a segment, to compete with Courtyard By Marriott and Hilton Garden Inn—I agree with Tom. I prefer not to classify the segment—midscale, upscale, etc. But I share the principles and philosophy behind Tom’s point. What we do as a brand manager is upgrade and uptrade customers through innovation. If we do it right, the brand will be able to take an increasing premium over others in the competitive set not doing those things. By Derek Gale, Senior Editor
