InterContinental Hotels Group Summoned by Beijing Over Alleged Exclusion of Chinese Legal Jurisdiction
The Beijing Municipal Administration for Market Regulation announced on the 8th that consumer associations from Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei jointly summoned Six Continents Hotels (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., the domestic operator of InterContinental Hotels Group, demanding rectification of member terms suspected of infringing upon consumer rights. These terms include excluding Chinese legal jurisdiction, mandatory overseas arbitration, and restricting collective rights protection. InterContinental Hotels Group has responded, stating it highly values and sincerely accepts the supervision and guidance. Failure to comply with rectification requirements may lead to public interest lawsuits.
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- 📰 Published: April 9, 2026 at 17:38
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The Beijing Municipal Administration for Market Regulation announced on the 8th that consumer associations from Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei jointly summoned Six Continents Hotels (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., the domestic operator of InterContinental Hotels Group, and issued clear rectification requirements.
The announcement stated that InterContinental Hotels was summoned because its "IHG Rewards Club Membership Terms and Conditions" contained multiple clauses suspected of infringing upon consumers' legitimate rights and interests. These clauses included excluding Chinese legal jurisdiction, forcing Chinese consumers to arbitrate overseas, restricting consumers' rights to collective rights protection, allowing arbitrary changes to contract terms, and disclaiming responsibility for losses caused by the use of goods.
The consumer associations of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei stated that their investigation found that InterContinental Hotels Group had set up multiple clauses suspected of infringing upon consumers' legitimate rights and interests in its website and app's membership terms. These mainly focused on mandatory arbitration, exclusion of litigation options and application of Chinese law, deprivation of consumers' rights to collective rights protection, and infringement of consumers' rights to choose, fair trade, and compensation.
The consumer associations of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei put forward clear rectification requirements, setting a deadline for InterContinental Hotels Group to comprehensively review and revise its membership terms, modifying unfair and unreasonable content such as excluding consumers' right to litigation, mandatory overseas arbitration, application of overseas law, and excessive unilateral exemption, to ensure that contract terms comply with the principle of fairness.
The announcement stated that if InterContinental Hotels Group fails to complete the rectification as required, further measures, including but not limited to initiating public interest litigation, will be taken in accordance with China's "Consumer Rights Protection Law" to resolutely safeguard consumers' legitimate rights and interests.
According to mainland media outlet The Paper, InterContinental Hotels Group responded today, stating that it highly values and sincerely accepts the supervision and guidance from the consumer associations of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei regarding the news of InterContinental Hotels being summoned over membership terms. "We always adhere to prioritizing consumer rights."
Public information shows that InterContinental Hotels Group, headquartered in the UK, is a leading multinational hotel company globally, owning nearly 20 well-known hotel brands including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, voco, and Six Senses.
The 2025 financial report shows that InterContinental Hotels Group's full-year revenue reached US$5.189 billion, a 5.4% year-on-year increase; profit grew by 15% to US$1.2 billion. However, RevPAR (revenue per available room) in Greater China declined by 1.6% for the full year, becoming the only major region globally with negative growth. (Edited by Yang Sheng-ru / Chen Cheng-kung) 1150409
The announcement stated that InterContinental Hotels was summoned because its "IHG Rewards Club Membership Terms and Conditions" contained multiple clauses suspected of infringing upon consumers' legitimate rights and interests. These clauses included excluding Chinese legal jurisdiction, forcing Chinese consumers to arbitrate overseas, restricting consumers' rights to collective rights protection, allowing arbitrary changes to contract terms, and disclaiming responsibility for losses caused by the use of goods.
The consumer associations of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei stated that their investigation found that InterContinental Hotels Group had set up multiple clauses suspected of infringing upon consumers' legitimate rights and interests in its website and app's membership terms. These mainly focused on mandatory arbitration, exclusion of litigation options and application of Chinese law, deprivation of consumers' rights to collective rights protection, and infringement of consumers' rights to choose, fair trade, and compensation.
The consumer associations of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei put forward clear rectification requirements, setting a deadline for InterContinental Hotels Group to comprehensively review and revise its membership terms, modifying unfair and unreasonable content such as excluding consumers' right to litigation, mandatory overseas arbitration, application of overseas law, and excessive unilateral exemption, to ensure that contract terms comply with the principle of fairness.
The announcement stated that if InterContinental Hotels Group fails to complete the rectification as required, further measures, including but not limited to initiating public interest litigation, will be taken in accordance with China's "Consumer Rights Protection Law" to resolutely safeguard consumers' legitimate rights and interests.
According to mainland media outlet The Paper, InterContinental Hotels Group responded today, stating that it highly values and sincerely accepts the supervision and guidance from the consumer associations of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei regarding the news of InterContinental Hotels being summoned over membership terms. "We always adhere to prioritizing consumer rights."
Public information shows that InterContinental Hotels Group, headquartered in the UK, is a leading multinational hotel company globally, owning nearly 20 well-known hotel brands including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, voco, and Six Senses.
The 2025 financial report shows that InterContinental Hotels Group's full-year revenue reached US$5.189 billion, a 5.4% year-on-year increase; profit grew by 15% to US$1.2 billion. However, RevPAR (revenue per available room) in Greater China declined by 1.6% for the full year, becoming the only major region globally with negative growth. (Edited by Yang Sheng-ru / Chen Cheng-kung) 1150409
FAQ
Why was InterContinental Hotels Group summoned?
InterContinental Hotels Group was summoned because its membership terms contained multiple clauses suspected of infringing upon consumers' legitimate rights and interests, such as excluding Chinese legal jurisdiction, mandatory overseas arbitration, and restricting consumers' rights to collective rights protection.
What will happen if InterContinental Hotels Group fails to complete the rectification?
If InterContinental Hotels Group fails to complete the rectification as required, further measures, including but not limited to initiating public interest litigation, will be taken in accordance with China's "Consumer Rights Protection Law."