IHG Hotels & Resorts to more than triple India footprint over five years 

IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s largest hotel groups, is set to significantly expand its presence in India, with plans to more than triple its estate over the next five years. The company currently operates more than 50 hotels in the country and has another 80 in the development pipeline, taking its total room inventory close to 12,000. 

India continues to be a key growth engine for IHG, which recorded its third consecutive year of record hotel signings in the country in 2025. The strong momentum underpins the group’s broader ambition to reach more than 400 open and pipeline hotels across India in the next five years, reflecting sustained owner confidence in IHG’s brand portfolio and enterprise platform. 

IHG has hotels opened or signed across eight brands in India

IHG has hotels opened or signed across eight brands in India, spanning luxury, premium and midscale segments. These include Six Senses, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, voco, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Garner, and Staybridge Suites. As part of its ongoing portfolio expansion, the company plans to debut its Vignette Collection brand in early 2026, strengthening its presence in the luxury and lifestyle segment. 

Elie Maalouf, Chief Executive Officer of IHG Hotels & Resorts, 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. 

Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said India continues to be one of IHG’s most active markets, supported by an underpenetrated branded hotel landscape and robust demand across business and leisure travel. He noted that the growth of premium brands such as InterContinental and Crowne Plaza complements the strong performance of mainstream brands like Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express, which anchor IHG’s scale in the country. 

IHG’s essentials portfolio remains the backbone of its India presence. Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express together account for over 70% of IHG’s operating hotels in India and the majority of its development pipeline. Holiday Inn Express ranked first for signings in its industry category year-to-date in the third quarter of 2025. 

Company is gaining traction with Garner brand

The company is also gaining traction with Garner, its newest midscale conversion brand, launched in India in 2025. Initial signings include hotels in Etawah (Uttar Pradesh) and Kathua (Jammu & Kashmir), with additional properties planned in Kutch and Bhiwadi, highlighting growing demand for branded conversion-led offerings. 

Crowne Plaza accounts for 25% of IHG’s hotels under development in India

In the premium segment, Crowne Plaza now accounts for about 25% of IHG’s hotels under development in India. The opening of Crowne Plaza Lucknow in May 2025 marked IHG’s 50th operational hotel in the country. The voco brand has also made its India debut, with signings across cities and leisure destinations such as Srinagar, Goa, Gurugram, Mumbai and Amritsar, including its first opening near Jim Corbett National Park. 

Luxury and lifestyle brands form a growing share of IHG’s India pipeline. InterContinental continues to expand across major metros and resort destinations, while Six Senses has established a strong foothold with properties in Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. 

IHG currently operates 51 hotels across six brands in India and has a pipeline of 80 hotels slated to open over the next three to five years, positioning the group for its next phase of growth in the country’s hospitality sector.