InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) today announced that the InterContinental brand will be making its entry into Malaysia.

From 1 February 2011, InterContinental Kuala Lumpur will replace the current Nikko Hotel.

The 473-room hotel is located at Jalan Ampang, a prestigious upscale address in the heart of Kuala Lumpur's business, shopping and entertainment district. It is a short distance to the iconic Petronas Twin Towers and the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, which attracts high-profile regional and international events. The hotel is also just a ten‐minute drive to the Putra World Trade Centre and about an hour drive from Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

"Kuala Lumpur is a key regional destination, and Malaysia was one of the few Southeast Asian countries that saw an increase in visitor arrivals in 2009, a trend that has continued to-date this year. This is a hotel market that has potential for long-term growth, especially in view of Malaysia's target of reaching 36 million tourist arrivals by 2020," said Jan Smits, Managing Director of IHG Asia Australasia.

He added that IHG is excited to bring the InterContinental brand to Malaysia's capital. The InterContinental brand is located in more than 60 countries and appeals to discerning, affluent travellers who are interested in being connected to what is most special about their destinations. "Kuala Lumpur will be yet another destination where InterContinental guests will be able to make the most out of local insights that will transform a hotel stay into an authentic experience with stories that they can share when they go home," remarked Jan.

At InterContinental Kuala Lumpur, guests can also expect luxurious recreational facilities and a good range of dining options from the hotel's five food & beverage outlets serving local and international cuisines.

"We are excited to partner with IHG as we begin the rebranding process. We believe that establishing the InterContinental brand will capture an even greater share of the growing number of visitors to Kuala Lumpur, which has frequently been one of the most visited cities in the world," said Thomas Lee, Director of the hotel's owning company MTJ Development Sdn Bhd.

The hotel is slated to embark on a 30-month ongoing refurbishment, which will take place in three phases. Currently, there are 170 InterContinental Hotels operating globally, including 50 in Asia Pacific.

In Malaysia, IHG also operates Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur, Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur Glenmarie, Holiday Inn Resort Penang and Holiday Inn Malacca. With the earlier signing of the Holiday Inn Express in Kota Kinabalu, IHG will have all its key brands operating in Malaysia when the Holiday Inn Express debuts in the market.