Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG®) is a global hospitality powerhouse known for its diverse portfolio of hotel brands, including InterContinental, Holiday Inn, and Crowne Plaza. With a mission to provide True Hospitality for everyone, IHG operates over 5,900 hotels across nearly 100 countries.

As a Machine Learning Engineer at IHG, you'll be at the forefront of leveraging data and machine learning to enhance customer experiences, optimize operations, and drive innovative solutions within the hospitality industry. This role demands expertise in machine learning algorithms, data processing, and software engineering practices.

To assist you in your preparation, Interview Query has compiled an in-depth guide. In this guide, you’ll explore the IHG interview process, delve into typical interview questions, and uncover essential tips to help you navigate your way to landing this exciting position at IHG. Let’s dive in!

Submitting Your Application

The first step is to submit a compelling application that reflects your technical skills and interest in joining Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG®) as a Machine Learning Engineer. Whether you were contacted by an IHG recruiter or have taken the initiative yourself, carefully review the job description and tailor your CV according to the prerequisites.

Tailoring your CV may include identifying specific keywords that the hiring manager might use to filter resumes and crafting a targeted cover letter. Furthermore, don’t forget to highlight relevant skills and mention your work experiences.

Recruiter/Hiring Manager Call Screening

If your CV happens to be among the shortlisted few, a recruiter from the IHG Talent Acquisition Team will make contact and verify key details like your experiences and skill level. Behavioral questions may also be a part of the screening process.

In some cases, the IHG Machine Learning Engineer hiring manager stays present during the screening round to answer your queries about the role and the company itself. They may also indulge in surface-level technical and behavioral discussions.

The whole recruiter call should take about 30 minutes.

Technical Virtual Interview

Successfully navigating the recruiter round will present you with an invitation for the technical screening round. Technical screening for the IHG Machine Learning Engineer role usually is conducted through virtual means, including video conference and screen sharing. Questions in this 1-hour long interview stage may revolve around IHG's data systems, machine learning algorithms, and coding skills.

You may be given coding challenges or assignments related to machine learning tasks, data preprocessing, and model evaluation. Your proficiency in Python, R, or any relevant programming languages will be assessed. Additionally, your understanding of machine learning concepts, including model optimization and deployment, might be tested.

Onsite Interview Rounds

Followed by a second recruiter call outlining the next stage, you’ll be invited to attend the onsite interview loop. Multiple interview rounds, varying with the role, will be conducted during your day at the IHG office. Your technical prowess, including programming and ML modeling capabilities, will be evaluated against the finalized candidates throughout these interviews.

If you were assigned take-home exercises, a presentation round may also await you during the onsite interview for the Machine Learning Engineer role at IHG.

Quick Tips For Intercontinental Hotels Group Machine Learning Engineer Interviews

• Brush up on your machine learning algorithms: Ensure you have a strong understanding of various machine learning algorithms, their applications, and implementation. Be ready to discuss previous projects where you have successfully used these algorithms.
• Focus on business impact: IHG values how machine learning can drive business value. Prepare to discuss how your ML projects have contributed to improved business outcomes, and be ready to provide examples.
• Practice problem-solving: During the technical interviews, you will likely face real-world scenarios. Practicing problem-solving techniques and being able to think on your feet will help you significantly.

Typically, interviews at Intercontinental Hotels Group (Ihg®) vary by role and team, but commonly Machine Learning Engineer interviews follow a fairly standardized process across these question topics.

• What retention rate is needed to break even with a two-year contract under a subscription model? Smart Sales Incorporated is considering switching from a one-time sale model to a subscription-based model for its POS systems. Given a two-year contract duration, calculate the retention rate required to break even with the traditional one-time sale model.

• What retention rate is needed to break even in four and six years if the two-year target is missed? If the company does not break even within the initial two-year contract period, determine the retention rate required to break even in the subsequent four years and in the next six years. Assume the cost for subscription and one-time sales are equivalent.

• What retention rate is needed for Smart Sales Incorporated to break even with a two-year contract? Smart Sales Incorporated is considering a subscription model for its POS systems. Given a two-year contract duration, calculate the retention rate required to break even with the traditional one-time sale model.

• What retention rate is needed to break even in four and six years if the two-year target is missed? If the company does not break even within the initial two-year contract period, determine the retention rate required to break even in the subsequent four years and in the next six years. Assume the costs for subscription and one-time sales are equivalent.

• Write a SQL query to select the 2nd highest salary in the engineering department. Write a SQL query to select the 2nd highest salary in the engineering department. If more than one person shares the highest salary, the query should select the next highest salary.

• How do we deal with missing square footage data to construct a housing price prediction model? You have scraped 100K sold listings in Seattle over the past three years, but 20% of the listings are missing square footage data. How would you handle this missing data to build an accurate housing price prediction model?

• What kind of model and features would you use to predict restaurant food preparation time? You want to predict the time it takes for a restaurant to prepare food from the moment an order is placed until it is ready. What type of model would you build, and what features would you consider using?

What is the average salary for a Machine Learning Engineer at Intercontinental Hotels Group (Ihg®)?

Q: What does a Machine Learning Engineer at IHG® do?
A: As a Machine Learning Engineer at IHG®, you will develop and implement machine learning models to enhance guest experiences and optimize business operations. Your role involves data analysis, algorithm development, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate these models into scalable solutions.

Q: What are the key qualifications needed for a Machine Learning Engineer at IHG®?
A: The key qualifications include a strong background in machine learning, data science, and software engineering. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, familiarity with machine learning frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch, and experience with data preprocessing and feature engineering are also crucial.

Q: What is the interview process for a Machine Learning Engineer at IHG®?
A: The interview process typically consists of multiple stages, including an initial phone screen with a recruiter, technical interviews focusing on coding and algorithmic skills, and onsite interviews that assess your ability to solve real-world problems using machine learning. You may also participate in a behavioral interview to evaluate your fit within the team and company culture.

Q: How can I best prepare for the technical interviews at IHG®?
A: To prepare for the technical interviews, it is important to brush up on your data structures and algorithms knowledge, practice coding problems, and review machine learning concepts. Utilize Interview Query to practice common interview questions and get insights on the types of problems frequently asked.

Q: What is the company culture like at IHG®?
A: IHG® emphasizes a collaborative and innovative work environment, valuing diversity and inclusivity. The company encourages continuous learning and professional growth, supporting employees to bring their best selves to work and contribute to the company’s mission of delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Looking to land a Machine Learning Engineer role at Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG®)? Delve deep into our extensive Intercontinental Hotels Group Interview Guide, where we’ve compiled numerous interview questions that you might encounter. Explore our detailed guides for various positions, such as software engineer and data analyst, to get a holistic understanding of IHG's hiring process.

At Interview Query, we equip you with a powerful toolkit featuring expert insights, strategic preparation tips, and confidence-boosting resources to conquer the Intercontinental Hotels Group's machine learning engineer interview challenges.

Check out all our company interview guides to enhance your preparation, and feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions.

Good luck with your interview!