NEWS
IHG targets 400-plus hotels in India within five years
IHG Hotels & Resorts is planning a major scale-up in India, aiming to surpass 400 open and in-development hotels within the next five years. The company says it already has more than 50 open hotels and 80 in development, together representing close to 12,000 rooms. The growth plan follows a third consecutive year of record hotel signings in 2025 and a broader push to widen brand choice across segments. A key near-term milestone is the planned debut of Vignette Collection in India in early 2026.
The latest update positions India as one of IHG’s strategic growth markets, supported by strong domestic travel demand, favourable demographics, and increasing owner confidence in branded operating platforms. In January 2026, IHG stated it is set to more than triple its estate in the country over the next five years, building from its current base of 51 operating hotels and an 80-hotel pipeline expected to open over the next three to five years.
Brand breadth is central to the strategy. IHG said it has hotels opened or signed across eight brands in India: Six Senses, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, voco, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Garner, and Staybridge Suites. The mix is designed to capture demand across luxury, premium, and midscale categories, while expanding deeper into both city and leisure markets.
Leadership commentary emphasised portfolio flexibility as a competitive advantage. Elie Maalouf linked India’s expansion to sustained demand and strong owner appetite for IHG’s brands, noting that newer concepts and additional brand entries are intended to add more choice for guests and owners. Sudeep Jain highlighted India as one of IHG’s most active markets, pointing to an underpenetrated branded landscape and broad-based demand across business and leisure travel as key tailwinds for growth.
Mainstream scale continues to come from IHG’s essentials segment. The company noted that Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express together account for more than 70% of IHG’s operating hotels in India, and also represent the majority of its hotels currently in development. IHG also stated that Holiday Inn Express ranked number one for signings in its industry category year-to-date in Q3 2025, reinforcing the role of the brand in anchoring national growth.
A second pillar is conversion-led expansion, highlighted by the 2025 introduction of Garner to India as IHG’s newest midscale conversion brand. IHG cited signings including Garner Etawah in Uttar Pradesh and Garner Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, with additional projects added to the pipeline including Garner Kutch and Garner Bhiwadi. The early pace of signings is being framed as proof of owner demand for efficient, branded essentials offerings that can be delivered through conversions.
In premium, IHG pointed to continued momentum for Crowne Plaza, which it said now represents around 25% of IHG hotels in development in the region. The opening of Crowne Plaza Lucknow in May 2025 was highlighted as a milestone, marking IHG’s 50th open hotel in India. IHG also described expanding traction for voco, with signings across Srinagar, Goa, Gurugram, Mumbai, Amritsar, and the first voco opening in Jim Corbett National Park.
Luxury and lifestyle growth is also increasing its share of the pipeline. IHG noted ongoing expansion for InterContinental in key metros such as Bengaluru and Hyderabad, alongside resort destinations including Mahabalipuram, Kasauli, and Kodaikanal. The company also referenced the strengthening of its luxury presence through Six Senses Fort Barwara (opened in Rajasthan in 2021) and the addition of Six Senses Vana in 2023. The planned early-2026 debut of Vignette Collection is positioned as the next step to accelerate presence in the luxury and lifestyle category.
Overall, IHG is framing the next five years in India around disciplined, portfolio-led expansion powered by owner partnerships, conversion opportunities, and a wider range of brand solutions. With 51 operating hotels today and 80 in development, the target of 400-plus open and in-development hotels is intended to create a new level of national scale across segments, from essentials-led growth to premium and luxury platforms.
Source: IHG Hotels & Resorts
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