Leadership Biography: Stevan Porter

InterContinental Hotels Group

Steve Porter serves as president, the Americas, for InterContinental Hotels Group and executive director of InterContinental Hotels Group PLC of the United Kingdom (LON: IHG; NYSE: IHG [ADRs]), the world’s most global hotel company and largest by number of rooms.

As president, the Americas, Steve is responsible for the management, growth and profitability of the company’s largest operating region, spanning the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. He is responsible for a portfolio of 2,800 hotels and resorts under the InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites hotel brands.

A 30-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Steve joined InterContinental Hotels Group in 2001 as chief operating officer, the Americas. As chief operating officer, Mr. Porter had strategic and tactical responsibility for all company-owned and -managed properties throughout North and South America.

Prior to joining InterContinental Hotels Group, Steve served with Hilton Hotels Corporation starting in 1990, when it was known as Promus Hotel Corporation. During his tenure with Promus, Steve served in roles of increasing responsibility including director of marketing, vice president of marketing, vice president of operations and senior vice president of operations. In 1998, Steve was promoted to executive vice president-operations for Promus, where he was responsible for overseeing the management of nearly 350 hotels and more than 40,000 employees. In 1999, when Promus became Hilton, Steve held the positions of senior vice president, Hilton Hotels Corporation and executive vice president, hotel operations. In his role as executive vice president, he had operational responsibility for all company-owned and -managed hotels.

Steve was awarded the coveted Stephen W. Brener Lodging Hospitality Silver Plate Award in 2006 and recognized for his outstanding contributions to the hospitality industry and for his expertise as a brand builder and leading franchisor.  In 2005, he was awarded the U.S. Fund for UNICEF Corporate Responsibility Award, which honors the company that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to philanthropic activity benefiting children. In 2004, Steve was awarded the B’nai B’rith Community Service Award and in 2003, Steve received the prestigious Oglethorpe Sword on behalf of the British American Business Group in recognition of his actions to promote the growth of business between the United Kingdom and State of Georgia.

Steve is on the Board of Directors for the Travel Business Roundtable, and is a member of the Business Advisory Council of the Richard T. Farmer School of Business at Miami University. He has also been active with the American Heart Association, the United Way, the Center for Elimination of Violence in the Family and other philanthropic endeavors.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Steve is a graduate of Miami University and received his master’s of business administration degree from Xavier University. He and his wife reside in Atlanta, Ga.