INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group (IHG) will launch in Bangkok its economy Holiday Inn Express and boutique Hotel Indigo brands by end 2011 and in 2013, respectively.

With Holiday Inn Express Siam Bangkok and Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road set to be the brands’ pioneer properties in South-east Asia when they open, Bangkok will be the first city in the region to have all five IHG brands in operation.

Alan Watts, the group's vice president operations South-east Asia, said: “Our strategy for expansion in the region is not about growing for growth's sake; it’s about bringing the right brands to the right destinations at the right time.”

“Holiday Inn Express and Hotel Indigo will further strengthen our presence in Thailand and across the region, alongside our other established brands – Holiday Inn, InterContinental and Crowne Plaza,” he added.

Meanwhile, IHG has opened a new office in Bangkok, with dedicated resources across key functions such as sales and marketing, development, human resources and business performance.

In Thailand, IHG currently has 10 operational hotels, and 11 properties that are scheduled to open over the next five years, including two InterContinentals, one Crowne Plaza, two Holiday Inns, four Holiday Inn Express, and two Hotel Indigos.