A spokeswoman confirmed that the chain - which is part of the Six Continents hotels and pubs group - would be making cuts, but said an exact number would not be released until a consultation process had been completed.

The jobs are to be lost among InterContinental's 2,700 back office staff who work in areas such as IT and accounts. Jobs in the hotels themselves will be not be affected.

A report in the Sunday Times newspaper said that as many as 800 jobs could be at risk.

'Bottom up' approach

"We are going through a reorganisation to create a hotel business for the 21st century," a spokeswoman said.

"It is all about a bottom up approach and we are looking at the whole business, breaking it down and building it up again.

"There will be job cuts. All jobs not in hotels are in consultation across the entire group."

Six Continents is set to split its hotels business from its pub interests on 15 April after shareholders approved the plan last month.

The vote to demerge the business blocked a takeover bid from entrepreneur Hugh Osmond.

Mr Osmond argued that Six Continents management had squandered shareholder value and presided over a collapse in its share price.

Following the split, Six Continents will be left with the hotel businesses which include the Holiday Inn, InterContinental and Crowne Plaza chains.

The pubs group will be renamed Mitchells & Butlers.

Both the pub and the hotel businesses are reported to be attracting takeover interest from rivals.