IHG Hotels & Resorts, the global hospitality major, has outlined an ambitious expansion roadmap for India and plans to exceed 400 open and under-development hotels within the next five years. In this context, the company identified India as a “key growth engine” and confirmed a third straight year of record hotel signings in 2025, thereby reinforcing its long-term growth commitment to the market.
Currently, IHG has hotels either operational or signed across eight brands in India—including Six Senses, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, voco, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Garner, and Staybridge Suites—spanning the luxury, premium, and midscale segments, which together create a strong base for the company’s next growth phase. Furthermore, as part of its ongoing portfolio expansion, IHG will introduce its Vignette Collection brand in early 2026, which will further accelerate its footprint in India’s Luxury & Lifestyle category.
Commenting on the strategy, Elie Maalouf, CEO, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said India is one of IHG’s strategic markets globally and a key contributor to its long-term growth ambitions. “Strong domestic demand, favorable demographics, and the depth of confidence owners express in our brands continue to support our expansion here,” he said. He further added, “With a global portfolio of 20 distinct brands, IHG is strategically expanding its presence in India by introducing more choices to the market. The upcoming debut of the Vignette Collection and a strong response to newer brands such as Garner highlight the relevance and flexibility of our portfolio in meeting evolving owner and guest needs.”
Meanwhile, Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, stated that India remains one of the company’s most active markets, supported by an underpenetrated branded hotel landscape and sustained demand across both business and leisure travel segments.
“The introduction of the Vignette Collection and rapid growth of the InterContinental and Crowne Plaza brands strengthens our offering across luxury and premium segments, complementing the strong performance of our mainstream brands such as Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express that anchor our scale in India,” he added. In addition, the company noted that Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express together account for more than 70 percent of IHG’s operating hotels in India, as well as the majority of properties currently under development.
At the same time, IHG highlighted that the launch of Garner in India in 2025 marked the entry of its newest midscale conversion brand into the country. During the year, the company signed Garner Etawah in Uttar Pradesh and Garner Kathua in Jammu & Kashmir, while it has also added additional properties in Garner Kutch and Garner Bhiwadi to its development pipeline.
Moreover, the opening of Crowne Plaza Lucknow in May 2025 represented a key milestone, as it became IHG’s 50th operational hotel in India. The company has also recently introduced the voco brand to the Indian market, with signings across cities and leisure destinations such as Srinagar, Goa, Gurugram, Mumbai, Amritsar, and the first voco property at Jim Corbett National Park. Additionally, the InterContinental brand continues to expand across major metropolitan markets, including Bengaluru and Hyderabad, while also strengthening its presence in resort destinations such as Mahabalipuram, Kasauli, and Kodaikanal.
