Restaurant India News: IHG Targets Over 400 Hotels in India as Expansion Accelerates

IHG Hotels & Resorts is preparing for a significant scale-up in India, with plans to more than triple its hotel estate over the next five years. The company currently operates more than 50 hotels in the country, with 80 additional properties under development, representing close to 12,000 rooms. India continues to be one of IHG’s fastest-growing markets and has delivered a third consecutive year of record signings in 2025.

The sustained signing momentum supports IHG’s stated objective of reaching more than 400 hotels open or in development across India within the next five years. The growth reflects continued owner confidence in IHG’s brand portfolio and operating platform, as well as strong domestic demand across travel segments.

IHG currently has hotels open or signed across eight brands in India, including Six Senses, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, voco, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Garner, and Staybridge Suites. These brands span luxury, premium, and midscale segments and form the base for the company’s next phase of expansion. As part of its pipeline growth, IHG is scheduled to introduce its Vignette Collection brand in India in early 2026, further strengthening its Luxury and Lifestyle presence.

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. 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 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. Backed by a robust portfolio of hotels in development, we are well positioned to accelerate growth in India while advancing our broader ambition of building scale across key markets.”

Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, added, “India remains one of IHG’s most active markets, supported by an underpenetrated branded hotel landscape and strong demand across business and leisure segments. The introduction of 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. With 80 hotels in development and an increasing signing momentum, we remain focused on delivering accelerating growth in the country over the next five years.”

IHG’s essentials portfolio continues to anchor its India presence, driven by steady demand from business travel, leisure trips, weekend stays, and experience-focused travel. 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 under development. Holiday Inn Express ranked number one for signings in its industry category in Q3 2025 year-to-date.

The introduction of Garner in India in 2025 marked the launch of IHG’s midscale conversion brand in the country. Recent signings include Garner Etawah in Uttar Pradesh and Garner Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, with additional properties in Garner Kutch and Garner Bhiwadi added to the pipeline. Early traction for the brand reflects growing owner interest in efficient, conversion-led branded offerings.

IHG has also seen steady growth across its premium segment. Crowne Plaza now accounts for around 25 percent of the company’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 entered India, with signings across cities and leisure destinations including Srinagar, Goa, Gurugram, Mumbai, Amritsar, and the brand’s first opening in Jim Corbett National Park.

Luxury and Lifestyle brands form an increasing share of IHG’s India pipeline. InterContinental continues to expand across major metros such as Bengaluru and Hyderabad, alongside resort locations including Mahabalipuram, Kasauli, and Kodaikanal. The group has further strengthened its luxury footprint with the opening of Six Senses Fort Barwara in Rajasthan in 2021 and the addition of Six Senses Vana in 2023.

IHG currently operates 51 hotels across six brands in India and has a pipeline of 80 hotels scheduled to open over the next three to five years. The expansion strategy reflects a portfolio-led approach focused on balanced growth across mainstream, premium, and luxury segments, supported by long-term owner partnerships and conversion opportunities.