InterContinental Hotels Group will debut in Varanasi with two brands in 2021 after signing deals with the JHV Group.
IHG will develop a Crowne Plaza and a Holiday Inn in the Indian holy city.
Owned by two separate JHV Group subsidiaries, the centrally located Crowne Plaza Varanasi will feature 300 guest rooms and the 189-room Holiday Inn Varanasi will be situated near the airport.
"With these signings in Varanasi, we continue to be on track to having 150 hotels open or in our pipeline within in the next 10-15 years," said Sudeep Jain, VP of development, Southwest Asia at IHG.
According to government data, Varanasi attracted 300,000 foreign visitors and more than 5.5 million domestic travellers last year.
IHG recently announced 14 new hotels will be added in 11 cities to the Holiday Express brand portfolio in India after agreeing a rebranding agreement with Samhi.
