InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has revealed its interim results for the first half of 2013, announcing a bumper shareholder payout as revenues, profits and RevPar (revenue per available room) rise.

Globally, IHG saw 3.7 percent growth in RevPAR in the first half of the year (six months to June 30 2013), supporting a 7 percent increase in revenue for the period and a 20 percent increase in operating profit to $338 million.

IHG also announced a 10 percent increase in the interim dividend, as well as plans to return an additional $350 million to shareholders via a special dividend, continuing its track record of industry leading shareholder returns.

In Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA), RevPAR was up 6.2 percent (with 1.6 percent rate growth) and second quarter RevPAR was up 6.8 percent (with 2.3 percent rate growth).

Southeast Asia and Japan reported high single digit RevPAR growth.

The Middle East and Australasia both achieved mid-single digit RevPAR increases.

In the AMEA region, IHG has opened 2,000 rooms across six hotels in the first half of 2013, including an InterContinental hotel in Osaka, IHG’s first new-build InterContinental to open in Japan for over 15 years.

During the first six months of this year, IHG has also signed 10 hotels (3,000 rooms) in the region, up over 80 percent year on year.

New hotel signings include a Crowne Plaza hotel in Oman, Staybridge Suites hotels in Jeddah and the first Holiday Inn hotels for Doha and Mauritius.

Richard Solomons, CEO, said: “We have delivered a good performance in the first half, with our preferred brands driving RevPAR growth of 3.7 percent, including 4 percent in the second quarter.”

The CEO said: “Consistent with our long track record of creating value for shareholders, we announce a $350 million special dividend. In addition we are increasing the interim dividend by 10 percent reflecting our good first half results and the confidence we have in the future prospects of the business,” he said.