Franchised hotel operator InterContinental Hotels said it added 28,848 net new rooms in 2007, an increase of 5%. That means it has now achieved 47,419 of its targeted 50-60,000 net new rooms by the end of 2008.

Revenue per available room (RevPAR) increased 7% at constant currency as the company unveiled continuing operating profit up 19% to £237 million in the year. Shares reacted positively, up 2%, or 14.5 pence at 786p.

InterContinental said it expects another high level of new hotel openings in 2008, with the group well-positioned for growth in what is now a less predictable market.

The company, whose franchises include InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and the Holiday Inn brands, said its total pipeline stands at 225,872 new rooms.

In November, the group unveiled a worldwide refurbishment programme for its Holiday Inn brand, with franchisees and hotel owners shouldering $1 billion of the costs.

The first revamped hotel is slated to open this spring, with the programme fully implemented by 2010. InterContinental said the response from its owner community has been very strong.

The group also said, following continued success in the US, it intends to introduce its Hotel Indigo and Staybridge Suites concepts into the UK in 2008, before embarking on a wider geographic roll-out.

InterContinental declared a full-year dividend of 20.6 pence, up 12% on the previous year.