IHG Hotels & Resorts is bringing one of the world's largest and most beloved brands, Holiday Inn Express, to Japan for the first time with the opening of Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre Midosuji in December this year.

Following a landmark agreement with owner Baring Private Equity Asia, in what is their first ever hotel partnership globally, IHG is proud to add Japan to Holiday Inn Express' growing list of global destinations, building on its globally-renowned status.

IHG has worked towards bringing this iconic brand to Japan for several years, but has taken its time and has waited until it had the perfect asset, an AAA location and the ideal partner with whom to launch. This selective approach has paid off and, when it opens in December, the 306-room Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre Midosuji will make a stunning first for the brand in Japan, with fresh, bold and modern design and an unmatched location - which will be further enhanced by a full refurbishment in the first six months after opening.

Located in the heart of Osaka on its most famous Boulevard, Midosuji, just minutes' walk from the world famous Shinsaibashi retail & Namba entertainment districts, as well as Osaka's main Yodoyabashi financial district, Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre Midosuji will almost certainly boast Osaka's most privileged and desirable hotel address. Stepping out from the hotel, guests will be immersed in the best Osaka has on offer, including its renowned shopping, restaurants and nightlife.

The hotel will embrace the brand's hallmark of simple, smart travel, based on the idea that travel should be free from hassle and complication. Guests at Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre Midosuji will have everything they need to ensure they are more than ready for their day, including high-speed WiFi, high quality bedding, choice of pillows and - importantly - a cooked buffet breakfast and coffee, or takeout for those in a hurry. With all this, and more, it is destined to be the first choice for the increasing number of travelers who need a simple, engaging place to rest, recharge and get a little work done.

This year Holiday Inn Express celebrated its 30th anniversary by surpassing 3,000 open properties across the globe, with more than 300,000 rooms in 2,100 cities. It is part of the Holiday Inn brand family, the largest hotel brand in the world.

IHG Hotels & Resorts currently operates or franchises 37 hotels around Japan, under the InterContinental, Kimpton, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Hotel Indigo brands, as well as co-branded hotels as part of its joint venture with ANA. It also has 11 hotels in the pipeline, including Regent Kyoto and the 1,000 room Appil Kogen Resort which will feature ANA InterContinental, ANA Crowne Plaza and ANA Holiday Inn brands.

Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre Midosuji will join IHG's other hotels in Osaka, including InterContinental Osaka, ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka, Holiday Inn Shin Osaka and Holiday Inn Osaka Namba, as well as ANA Crowne Plazas in nearby Kobe and Kyoto.