# World Cup boost helps Holiday Inn owner weather Iran war hit

By Dan Coatsworth — 2026-08-11

Following reports that InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has experienced increased demand across the World Cup tournament, Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, believes IHG’s diverse mix of brands is integral to the company’s strength.

He said: “A combination of World Cup fever and resilient demand from affluent customers has helped InterContinental stand tall during a difficult period for the broader travel and hospitality sector.

“However, with revenue coming in short of expectations, growth slowing in the second quarter and with the company warning about the continuing impact of the Middle East conflict, some investors checked out of the shares in the wake of its results.

“IHG benefits from having a diverse mix of different hotel brands across the globe which typically allows it to offset weak performance in some areas with stronger showings elsewhere.

“The hotels group is continuing to expand at pace, benefiting from its capital-light model. Because the business only owns a small proportion of its hotels and instead focuses on franchising and managing premises, it can generate strong margins and grow without employing lots of capital.

“The continued roll-out of new rooms, allied to a generous hike in the dividend and the large ongoing share buyback programme, offers a clear indication of management’s confidence in the long-term outlook, however clouded the short-term picture is by geopolitical worries.”

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