IHG Targets 400 Hotels in India by 2031 With Aggressive Multi-Brand Expansion

India Emerges as a Priority Growth Market for IHG

IHG Hotels & Resorts has outlined its most ambitious expansion strategy in India to date, aiming to scale its portfolio to more than 400 open and in-development hotels within the next five years. With over 50 hotels currently operating and around 80 properties in the pipeline, comprising close to 12,000 rooms, the group is positioning India as one of its most critical long-term growth markets globally.

Driven by strong domestic travel demand, favourable demographics and an underpenetrated branded hotel landscape, IHG’s India strategy reflects a shift toward sustained, portfolio-led scale rather than cyclical growth.

Record Signing Momentum Strengthens Growth Outlook

India delivered its third consecutive year of record hotel signings in 2025, reinforcing owner confidence in IHG’s brand architecture and operating platform. This consistent signing momentum underpins the company’s target to more than triple its Indian footprint by 2031 and signals growing acceptance of branded hospitality across metro cities, secondary markets and emerging leisure destinations.

Eight Active Brands and Vignette Collection Debut in 2026

IHG’s India portfolio currently spans eight brands across luxury, premium and midscale segments, including Six Senses, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, voco, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Garner and Staybridge Suites. This diversified presence allows the company to address varied market needs without dependence on a single segment.

The planned debut of Vignette Collection in early 2026 is expected to strengthen IHG’s Luxury & Lifestyle footprint, particularly through conversion-led opportunities in high-value destinations.

Leadership Reinforces India’s Strategic Role

Elie Maalouf, Chief Executive Officer, IHG Hotels & Resorts, highlighted India’s long-term importance, citing strong domestic demand, favourable demographics and sustained owner confidence. He noted that IHG’s global portfolio of 20 brands provides flexibility to meet evolving owner and guest expectations while enabling accelerated scale in key markets such as India.

Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, added that India remains one of IHG’s most active regions, with growth spanning luxury, premium and mainstream segments. He emphasised that a robust development pipeline and rising signing activity position the group for continued momentum over the next five years.

Holiday Inn Brands Continue to Anchor Scale

Mainstream brands remain central to IHG’s India expansion. Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express together account for more than 70 per cent of IHG’s operating hotels in the country, as well as the majority of properties in development. Their consistent performance across business travel, leisure breaks and resort stays has reinforced their role as scale drivers.

Holiday Inn Express ranked number one for signings in its category in Q3 2025 year-to-date, highlighting strong owner demand for efficient, essentials-focused branded offerings.

Garner Accelerates Midscale Conversion Growth

Midscale conversions are emerging as a key growth lever for IHG. The launch of Garner in India in 2025 marked the entry of the group’s newest conversion-led brand. Early signings, including Garner Etawah and Garner Kathua, followed by additions in Kutch and Bhiwadi, indicate rising owner interest in standardised, cost-efficient branded models suited to secondary and emerging markets.

Premium, Luxury and Lifestyle Portfolio Expands

At the premium end, Crowne Plaza now represents around a quarter of IHG’s hotels in development in India, supported by openings such as Crowne Plaza Lucknow. The voco brand has been introduced across city and leisure locations, demonstrating flexibility in location strategy.

Luxury and lifestyle brands are also scaling steadily. InterContinental is expanding across major metros and resort destinations, while Six Senses has established a strong presence in experiential wellness with properties such as Fort Barwara and Vana.

Outlook: Disciplined Growth and Long-Term Scale

With over 50 operating hotels, a pipeline of 80 properties, and a balanced mix across segments, IHG is positioning itself to participate meaningfully in the next phase of India’s hospitality growth. The strategy remains focused on disciplined expansion, strong owner partnerships and portfolio balance, reinforcing India’s role as a cornerstone market in IHG’s global growth roadmap.