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The morning after the breakup. (One-on-One).

Article Excerpt
InterContinental Hotels Group on April 15 became a separate entity from the pub business with which it formerly was linked under the Six Continents Plc umbrella. Last month, Stevan Porter, IHG president of the Americas, briefed BTN hotel editor Bruce Serlen on the new company's position in the marketplace, particularly involving corporate buyers.

BTN: What actually changed in April from the buyer perspective?

Stevan Porter: We became a true, standalone hotel company. For a company with five brands and better than 3,000 hotels, to now have a singular focus on the lodging industry is significant. For all of our buyers and users, but specifically corporate travel managers, it strengthens the simple, single-point-of-contact approach we've put in place.

Corporate buyers especially have known the InterContinental name and the largely InterContinental-sponsored sales force for a number of years. The fact that that sales-person now can represent a portfolio of brands and solutions for buyers has been well received.

BTN: Soon after the April announcement, the company laid off 800 employees. Given the state of the economy today, buyers are very sensitive about cutbacks that might affect the quality of the experience for travelers at their preferred hotels. Please explain the cuts.

Porter: We clearly saw an opportunity to strengthen the company through a significant reduction in overhead...

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