IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to more than triple its presence in India, targeting over 400 hotels either open or under development within five years. The commitment, disclosed this week, represents the company’s most ambitious expansion roadmap for the market to date.
The British hospitality group currently operates more than 50 hotels in India with 80 additional properties in development, representing close to 12,000 rooms. India delivered a third consecutive year of record signings for IHG in 2025, according to the company, reflecting what it describes as strong owner confidence in its brand portfolio and enterprise systems.
IHG has identified India among its top five priority markets for the coming years, placing it alongside major growth territories such as Europe, the United States and China. The expansion will position India as one of the company’s most critical global growth engines.
Mainstream brands anchor the strategy
Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express together account for over 70% of IHG’s operating hotels in India, as well as the majority of hotels currently in development. The essentials portfolio benefits from consistent demand across corporate travel, weekend getaways and experience-led stays in both urban centres and resort destinations.
Holiday Inn Express ranked first for signings in its industry category in the first three quarters of 2025, underscoring the brand’s strong resonance with owners and travellers alike. The brand’s performance reflects broader market dynamics, where India’s branded hotels achieved 68% occupancy in 2025, with tier one cities posting the strongest results at 75.2% occupancy.
Premium and luxury segments accelerate
While mainstream brands drive volume, IHG is strengthening its premium and luxury positioning. Crowne Plaza represents about 25% of IHG hotels in development in the region.The opening of Crowne Plaza Lucknow in May 2025 marked IHG’s 50th operational hotel in India, a milestone reflecting three decades of market presence.
The company has also introduced the voco brand to India, with signings across Srinagar, Goa, Gurugram, Mumbai and Amritsar, alongside the first voco opening at Jim Corbett National Park. The InterContinental brand is expanding in cities such as Bengaluru and Hyderabad, as well as resort destinations including Mahabalipuram, Kasauli and Kodaikanal.
IHG’s luxury presence includes Six Senses Fort Barwara in Rajasthan, which opened in 2021, and Six Senses Vana, added in 2023. The company will debut its Vignette Collection brand in India in early 2026 to further accelerate its presence in the luxury and lifestyle category.
Conversion-led growth gains traction
The launch of Garner in India in 2025 marked the introduction of IHG’s newest mid-scale conversion brand to the market. Signings during the year included properties in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, and Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, with additional hotels in Kutch and Bhiwadi subsequently added to the pipeline.
The brand’s early traction demonstrates growing owner appetite for efficient, branded offerings that can be delivered through property conversions rather than ground-up development. This asset-light approach aligns with broader industry trends, as domestic hotel chains exhibit more flexibility in terms of hotel size and retain a 65:35 ratio over foreign brands in conversion rates.
Market fundamentals support expansion
IHG’s aggressive growth targets reflect favourable market conditions. India’s hotel industry recorded three years of double-digit revenue growth from 2022–23 to 2024–25, with demand expected to grow 8 to 10% while supply additions remain more modest at 5 to 6% CAGR.
The five-year development pipeline for India’s branded hotel sector exceeds 114,000 rooms, up 58% year over year, with 78% of projects under active development. Most new hotels are concentrated in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Jaipur and Goa, though secondary markets are increasingly attracting investment.
Sudeep Jain, Managing Director for South West Asia at IHG Hotels & Resorts, noted that India remains one of the company’s most active markets, “supported by an underpenetrated branded hotel landscape and strong demand across business and leisure segments.”
Strategic implications for workforce
The expansion will lead to employment of thousands of people, with an average of one person per room, according to company projections. IHG is also expanding its centre of excellence operating from India, which supports broader regional operations.
However, the sector faces challenges. India’s hospitality sector continues to face a shortage of skilled professionals across operational and managerial levels, with demand for trained staff in front office, housekeeping, food and beverage services and culinary arts often outpacing supply.
Looking ahead
IHG currently operates across eight brands in India spanning luxury, premium and midscale segments, including Six Senses, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, voco, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Garner and Staybridge Suites.
The group expects a record number of signings in 2026 as well, with CEO Elie Maalouf suggesting the total number of hotels in India under the IHG umbrella could eventually reach 1,000 over the long term. The company is also evaluating opportunities for branded residences projects in the country, signalling diversification beyond traditional hotel operations.
With India’s organised hotel industry projected to add over 100,000 rooms and surpass 300,000 branded rooms by 2029, IHG’s expansion positions it to capture a significant share of one of the world’s fastest-growing hospitality markets.
