IHG plans major expansion in India, targeting more than 400 hotels within five years - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

IHG Hotels & Resorts is preparing for a significant expansion in India, aiming to more than triple its estate to over 400 open and in-development hotels within the next five years. With more than 50 hotels currently operating and around 80 projects in the pipeline – representing close to 12,000 rooms – India has emerged as one of the company’s most dynamic growth markets worldwide.

Record momentum underpins long-term growth

India delivered a third consecutive year of record signings for IHG in 2025, reinforcing the country’s role as a key growth engine for the group. The strong development momentum reflects sustained domestic demand, favourable demographics and a high level of owner confidence in IHG’s brand portfolio and operating platform. Together, these factors support the company’s ambition to reach more than 400 hotels open or under development in the medium term.

Broad brand portfolio across market segments

IHG currently 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. This diversified footprint provides the foundation for the next phase of expansion. Further strengthening its presence in the Luxury & Lifestyle segment, IHG is set to debut its Vignette Collection brand in India in early 2026.

Elie Maalouf, Chief Executive Officer, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “India is one of IHG’s strategic markets globally and a key contributor to our long-term growth ambitions. Strong domestic demand, favourable demographics and the depth of confidence owners express in our brands continue to support our expansion here. The upcoming debut of Vignette Collection and the strong response to newer brands such as Garner highlight the relevance and flexibility of our portfolio in meeting evolving owner and guest needs.”

Development driven by scale and conversions

According to Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, India remains one of IHG’s most active regions, supported by an underpenetrated branded hotel landscape and robust demand across both business and leisure travel. He noted that the growth of InterContinental and Crowne Plaza, alongside the introduction of Vignette Collection, strengthens IHG’s luxury and premium offering, while established brands such as Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express continue to anchor scale in the market.

IHG’s essentials portfolio remains a cornerstone of its India strategy. Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express together account for more than 70 percent of the company’s operating hotels in the country, as well as the majority of projects under development. Holiday Inn Express ranked first in its segment for signings year-to-date in the third quarter of 2025, underscoring its strong market position.

New brands gain early traction

The introduction of Garner in 2025 marked the entry of IHG’s newest midscale conversion brand into the Indian market. Initial signings included properties in Etawah (Uttar Pradesh) and Kathua (Jammu & Kashmir), followed by additional projects in Kutch and Bhiwadi. The early momentum reflects growing owner interest in efficient, branded conversion models and supports IHG’s focus on asset-light, conversion-led growth.

At the premium end, Crowne Plaza now represents around a quarter of IHG’s hotels in development in India. The opening of Crowne Plaza Lucknow in May 2025 marked a milestone as the company’s 50th operational hotel in the country. The voco brand has also gained momentum, with signings across major cities and leisure destinations, including Srinagar, Goa, Gurugram, Mumbai and Amritsar, as well as the first voco opening in Jim Corbett National Park.

Luxury and lifestyle as a growing pillar

Luxury and lifestyle brands are accounting for an increasing share of IHG’s India pipeline. InterContinental continues to expand across major metropolitan markets such as Bengaluru and Hyderabad, while also growing in resort destinations including Mahabalipuram, Kasauli and Kodaikanal. The group’s luxury presence has been further strengthened by Six Senses Fort Barwara in Rajasthan and Six Senses Vana, which opened in 2023.

Outlook: disciplined expansion in a high-potential market

Looking ahead, IHG plans to pursue disciplined, portfolio-led growth in India, supported by strong owner partnerships and continued conversion opportunities. With a balanced mix of mainstream, premium and luxury brands, the company is positioning itself to capture the next phase of growth in India’s hospitality sector.

IHG currently operates 51 hotels across six brands in India and has a strong pipeline of around 80 hotels scheduled to open over the next three to five years.

Image Credit: © IHG