The Intercontinental Hotels Group, (IHG) a multinational hotel company with 19 hotel brands in over 100 countries, unveiled a roadmap to transform its presence in India, aiming to reach a milestone of more than 400 open and in-development properties over the next five years.
As of January 2026, IHG’s footprint in India includes 51 operational hotels, with an additional 80 properties—representing approximately 12,000 rooms—currently in the development pipeline.
Driving Force: Confidence and Demand
The decision to expand IHG’s estate threefold is fueled by a combination of robust domestic travel demand, favorable demographic shifts, and high levels of owner confidence. Elie Maalouf, CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts, emphasizes that India is a primary global market. He notes that the company’s diverse portfolio of 20 brands allows for the flexibility needed to meet the evolving requirements of both guests and hotel owners in a rapidly developing economy.
In the last three years, I had a great stay at Holiday Inns near Mumbai and Delhi airports. Both were much more upscale compared to the brand in the USA.
Diverse Brand Portfolio and Market Entry
IHG currently operates or has signed agreements across eight distinct brands in India, ranging from midscale to luxury:
Luxury & Lifestyle: Six Senses, InterContinental, and the upcoming Vignette Collection (debuting in early 2026).
Premium: Crowne Plaza and voco.
Essentials: Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Garner.
Suites: Staybridge Suites.
A significant portion of this growth is anchored by the “Essentials” segment. Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express collectively represent over 70% of IHG’s existing Indian inventory and the majority of its future pipeline.
New Brands and Premium Momentum
The company says it is also seeing rapid success with its newer offerings. The midscale conversion brand, Garner, was introduced to the Indian market in 2025 and has already secured signings in small towns such as Etawah, Kathua, Kutch, and Bhiwadi. This brand offers owners a flexible path to join the IHG system quickly.
In the premium sector, Crowne Plaza continues to account for roughly 25% of IHG’s hotels currently under development in India. Meanwhile, the voco brand is expanding its reach through multiple signings across various urban and leisure destinations.
Looking Ahead
According to Sudeep Jain, Managing Director for South West Asia, India remains one of IHG’s most active global markets due to an underpenetrated branded hotel landscape. BWith 80 hotels slated to open within the next three to five years, the company is on its way to achieving its goal of building scale in one of the world’s most dynamic travel markets.
