IHG Hotels & Resorts eyes top-two spot among international hotel chains in India by 2030

It took IHG Hotels & Resorts nearly five decades to build a portfolio of about 50 hotels in India. The next 50, however, could come in just three years. The global hospitality group, which entered India in 1965 through its InterContinental brand, is accelerating its India expansion as it chases a target of reaching 400 operating and pipeline hotels by 2030, betting on rising domestic travel, improving infrastructure and growing demand across both major cities and smaller destinations.

Sudeep Jain, managing director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts attributed IHG's accelerated growth plans in India to a confluence of factors.

"The macroeconomic conditions give us tailwinds. The growth in infrastructure, ease of doing business, increasing propensity to travel, and investments in airports, railways and roads all lend themselves to travel growth, and when people travel, they need hotel rooms," Jain told Fortune India.

At the same time, IHG's portfolio spans segments ranging from ultra luxury brands such as Six Senses and InterContinental to midscale offerings like Holiday Inn Express and Garner, allowing it to cater to a wide range of markets and travellers.

IHG currently has more than 52 operating hotels and around 98 hotels in the pipeline in India, taking its total portfolio to roughly 150 properties. Jain said the company aims to be among the top two international hotel operators in the country by hotel and room count (considering both operating and pipeline hotels) by the end of the decade.

“It's not just top two. It should be top two with the greatest momentum,” he added with gusto.

In fact, India has emerged as a "priority market" for the company globally.

"It is one of the fastest-growing markets for us," Jain shared. "Our goal is to get to 400 by 2030 in operating and pipeline hotels, and at the moment our base suggests that we are on pace to do this."

The company’s optimism comes against the backdrop of strong global performance. In the first quarter of 2026, global revenue per available room (RevPAR) rose 4.4%, led by 5.6% growth in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa. In full year results till December 2025, IHG generated a 5% rise to $35.2 billion in gross revenue, while operating profit rose 13% to $1.27 billion.

During the quarter, IHG crossed the milestone of 7,000 hotels globally after opening 82 properties and signing 163 more.

Elie Maalouf, CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts, had earlier said India remains one of the group’s most strategic markets globally. “Strong domestic demand, favourable demographics and continued owner confidence in our brands are driving our expansion. With a global portfolio of 20 brands, we are well positioned to introduce more choice and scale in India,” he said, adding that newer brands such as Garner and the upcoming Vignette Collection are seeing strong interest from owners.

Luxury push alongside core brands

While Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express remain the backbone of IHG's India portfolio, the company is also stepping up investments in luxury and lifestyle brands.

Globally, around two-thirds of IHG's hotels belong to the Holiday Inn family, and Jain expects a similar pattern to continue in India. However, he acknowledged that the company remains underrepresented in luxury compared with its global portfolio mix.

"We are relatively in the right spot with the right product mix," Jain said. "Our bread and butter will continue to remain the Holiday Inn family. However, at the moment we are underweighted relative to the world on luxury, and you will see that get balanced out."

IHG currently operates three luxury hotels in India and has nine more in the pipeline. The company is also preparing to introduce lifestyle brands such as Kimpton while expanding brands like Hotel Indigo and Six Senses.

Jain believes India's premiumisation trend will continue to support luxury hospitality demand. "The propensity is there to spend. Consumerism is here to stay in India and premiumisation is continuing," he said.

The company is also introducing newer brands to tap emerging markets. Recent project signings include Holiday Inn in Mathura, Garner (mid-scale segment) in Kathua and Kutch, along with other new signings in the first 6 months of CY26, locations that may not have featured prominently in hotel development discussions a decade ago.

Jain said the growth story is increasingly being fuelled by domestic demand, with nearly 90% of IHG’s room nights in India occupied by domestic travellers. Improved road connectivity, new airports and higher disposable incomes are helping unlock demand beyond traditional metropolitan markets.

Despite India’s rapid hotel development, Jain believes opportunities remain substantial. Rather than pursuing expansion for scale alone, IHG plans to maintain a disciplined approach focused on long-term profitability and owner returns.

“We are not growing for the sake of growing. We are growing for the sake of fulfilling the promise and creating long-term sustainable profitable growth,” he said.

As global hotel chains race to deepen their presence in India, IHG is positioning itself to benefit from what it sees as one of the world's most compelling hospitality growth stories.