AAP
InterContinental Hotels Group has announced a 25 per cent increase in first-half net profits thanks to a strong showing by its operations in the Americas.
Profit after tax jumped to $US340 million ($A381.98 million) in the six months to the end of June compared with net earnings of $US271 million in the first half of 2012, said the company that owns the InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotel chains.
Revenue grew 7.0 per cent to $US936 million in the reporting period, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) added in an earnings statement.
"We have delivered a good performance in the first half, with our preferred brands driving revenue per available room growth of 3.7 per cent," IHG chief executive Richard Solomons said in the statement.
"Our global scale has allowed us to reinvest in the business whilst growing margins, resulting in solid underlying profit gains led by our Americas region, and strong cash flows," he added.
Solomons said that IHG would pay shareholders a special dividend totalling $US350 million.
"In addition we are increasing the interim dividend by 10 per cent reflecting our good first half results and the confidence we have in the future prospects of the business," he added.