New IHG Hotels & Resorts' CEO, Elie Maalouf says a new midscale hotel brand is in the works. It will be focused on the US with big growth ambitions. It is presented to owners as ‘midscale hotel conversion opportunities’ and says there are already 100 hotels under discussions. Maalouf is targeting 500 US hotels under the new as yet unnamed brand within 10 years. IHG recorded a 24% rise in group revenue, with a similar increase for revenue per available room.

  IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hospitality companies, is proud to introduce voco Zeal Exeter Science Park in partnership with Zeal Hotels – the first lifecycle net zero carbon hotel for both businesses.   This follows the signing of a landmark exclusivity agreement between IHG and Zeal, which was revealed at the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) in Berlin in May.   Scheduled to open in 2024, voco Zeal Exeter Science Park has been designed to align with the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework Definition of the UK Green Building Council – the membership-led industry network.   With more than 6,000 properties in over 100 countries, IHG is committed to supporting hotel owners to decarbonise and futureproof their assets – while generating profits – to protect the long-term value of their business and reduce their impact on the environment.   Karin Sheppard, SVP Managing Director, Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “I’m delighted that voco Zeal Exeter Science Park will be IHG’s first lifecycle net zero carbon hotel. This outstanding property in a beautiful part of southwest England perfectly illustrates the commitment of IHG and Zeal to doing business responsibly and will provide our guests with a place to stay that matches their own expectations around sustainability.” “This agreement with Zeal follows a flurry of recent signings for IHG in the UK, and I’m excited to see the progress we’re continuing to make with our Journey to Tomorrow 10-year responsible business plan. It also marks another milestone for conversion-friendly brand voco, which is our quickest-growing brand globally and proving a popular choice for owners around the world.”   Tim Wheeldon, Managing Director, Zeal Hotels, said: “We are proud to be partnering with IHG on this very important project for both our businesses and the world around us. We have a vision for Zeal Hotels and we’re looking forward to turning this into reality with IHG and the voco Zeal Exeter Science Park when we open our doors to guests in 2024. “At Zeal and IHG we want to play our part in creating a sustainable future. As we work together on this project, we are sharing our knowledge to help move our industry forwards.”   Signed under a franchise agreement and set to be managed by Valor Hospitality, the 142-key hotel will be situated in the picturesque southwest English city of Exeter and offer leisure and business guests facilities including a restaurant, bar, gym, gardens, meeting space and numerous car charging points.   voco Zeal Exeter Science Park will be located adjacent to J29 of the M5 motorway, just a five-minute drive from Exeter Airport. It will be situated at the heart of Exeter Science Park which, once fully developed, will be home to around 822,000 sq ft of buildings for science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) businesses.   IHG’s Journey to Tomorrow 10-year responsible business plan is aligned to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Through its commitment to care for its people, communities and planet, IHG is taking steps to define and deliver an ambitious carbon emissions strategy.   As one of the world’s leading hotel groups, IHG recognises its responsibility to reduce its carbon emissions and has a science-based target in line with a 1.5C future as part of an international effort to curb global warming. In support of this, targeting all of its new-build hotels to operate at very low carbon emissions by 2030 is an important part of the company’s sustainable growth strategy.   The global expansion of voco hotels has happened at a faster pace than any other of its premium brands, with 46* open hotels around the world and 59* properties in its pipeline**. There are voco hotels open in 18 countries* and its pipeline includes the first voco hotels in Poland, Malta and Cyprus. In 2022, IHG also announced the launch of the brand in Belgium with voco Brussels City North and partners Living Tomorrow, set to open this year.   Recognising its appeal to guests, voco was recognised as the World’s Leading Premium Hotel Brand at the 2022 World Travel Awards.   *Numbers as at 31 March 2023 **Pipeline hotels are a combination of new signings pipeline, unbranded openings, unbranded pipeline and brand switches.

  IHG® Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, with 6000 hotels across 18 brands, has signed a franchise agreement that will see a Hotel Indigo property open in Oxagon, a coastal industrial city in NEOM, located in the Northwest region of Saudi Arabia.   In Oxagon, thriving communities will exist seamlessly alongside clean industry, commercial, hospitality, entertainment and retail activities. The 250-key Hotel Indigo property will be situated in Oxagon’s first residential community and will open its doors in 2026. Designed to seamlessly integrate work, live, and play, Oxagon’s neighborhoods will be fully walkable, with sustainable on-demand mass transit and micro mobility solutions.   As one of IHG’s lifestyle brands, Hotel Indigo properties offer a gateway to some of the world’s most inspiring locations. Just as no two neighborhoods are alike, no two Hotel Indigo properties are the same, taking inspiration from the area around each hotel to inform all aspects of the guest experience, from the hotel’s boutique design approach to locally inspired restaurants. Similarly, the Hotel Indigo property in Oxagon will be designed as a lifestyle destination offering exciting retail and dining concepts including cafés, a pool lounge, and a specialty restaurant. Additionally, residents and visitors will have access to a range of leisure and wellness facilities including a spa and 24-hour fitness centre.   Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG, said: “We are delighted to announce our first IHG hotel in the exciting and rapidly developing region of NEOM. Hotel Indigo is dedicated to embracing the unique essence of each local destination, ensuring that our hotels truly embody the spirit of their locations. We are excited to announce the upcoming opening of this new property in Oxagon, where an innovative blueprint for industry and remarkable livability is being crafted. This extraordinary establishment is set to welcome guests in 2026. In addition, our lifestyle brand, Hotel Indigo, has seen great success in the Kingdom with several signing in the past months. As our presence in the market continues to grow, we are committed to supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 by offering exceptional hospitality experiences to leisure and business travellers visiting the country.”   Redefining the traditional industrial city, Oxagon will put people, innovation, and sustainability at the core of its development and will be home to a dedicated research and innovation campus and a next-generation sustainable port with a fully automated and integrated supply chain. Vishal Wanchoo, CEO of Oxagon said: “Hotel Indigo’s vision to create a boutique neighborhood hotel reflecting Oxagon’s ethos of bringing people and technology together in harmony with nature, makes IHG the right partner for the first upscale property for our urban communities. As progress across our industrial and innovation ecosystems accelerate, these agreements ensure that exceptional hospitality experiences are available to tenants, residents, and visitors from the outset.”   Chris Newman, Executive Director, Hotel Development at NEOM, commented: “Hotel Indigo has earned global recognition for its unmatched ability to blend character and comfort, infusing the unique spirit of each neighborhood it operates in. We are delighted at the opportunity to create exceptional guest experiences that reflect the captivating beauty of their environment. With this property, we want to capture the true essence of Oxagon's innovative approach to the industry, its remarkable people, and the cutting-edge technology that defines it. We are confident that IHG is the perfect partner to embark on this endeavor with us, leveraging their expertise to bring our vision to fruition.”   IHG currently operates 37 hotels across five brands in Saudi Arabia, including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites, and Voco, with 31 hotels in the development pipeline set to open within the next three to five years. Last month IHG signed a management agreement to open a Hotel Indigo in Mohammed Bin Salman Non-profit City in 2025.

IHG Hotels & Resorts has formally opened its new global headquarters in Windsor, UK. IHG returns to the royal town after being based for the past 15 years in Denham, Buckinghamshire. The building is not only the global headquarters but also head of its Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa region. It operates more than 6,000 hotels across more than 100 countries. The Windsor One office was opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, hosted by IHG CEO, Keith Barr. The office has 57,000 square feet of space, modern event space, a recording studio and views of Windsor Castle. Keith Barr, Global CEO said: “It was important for us as a company to move to a space that empowered us to work collaboratively and flexibly.”

InterContinental Hotels and Iberostar inked a long‑ agreement for resort and all-inclusive hotels. Up to 70 hotels will be added to IHG’s portfolio under the Iberostar Beachfront Resorts brand, which will become the 18^th brand for IHG. This will boost IHG’s global system size by up to 3%. The first properties set to join the IHG system this December will give IHG guests increased choice in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Brazil and the Canary Islands. Further properties in Spain and other popular resort destinations in Southern Europe and North Africa will join through 2023 and 2024. IHG guests will be able to book stays at hotels including Iberostar Grand Paraiso (Riviera Maya, Mexico); Iberostar Selection Hacienda Dominicus (Bayahibe and Iberostar Selection Anthelia (Tenerife, Spain). These add to IHG’s existing 260 resort properties that span brands including Six Senses and Kimpton. The agreement significantly broadens IHG’s resort footprint. The portfolio of Iberostar properties will gain access to IHG’s distribution channels and the IHG One Rewards loyalty program. The Iberostar Beachfront Resorts brand will be included in a new Exclusive Partners category. Keith Barr, Chief Executive Officer, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “We are always looking at exciting, sustainable growth opportunities.” “Guests have told us of their wish for increased choice of resort and all-inclusive destinations within our brand portfolio.”

IHG Hotels & Resorts rolled out a new global marketing campaign, Guest How You Guest. Officially launched in the US and UK, and globally later this year, the multimillion-dollar Guest How You Guest campaign shows how guests can define their own journey at IHG hotels. Claire Bennett, Global Chief Customer Officer for IHG, said: “When you look around, it’s hard not to notice that travelers are increasingly left to fend for themselves, and that’s simply not what being a guest should feel like.” It sends a message that you don’t always have to do everything. We’re here to take care of all of you.” It is supported by the most extensive media campaign investment IHG has ever made for loyalty. Guest How You Guest showcases a personalized stay at an IHG hotel. Images and videos will appear online, in TV ads, magazines, billboards, murals and subway stations. Armando Flores, Executive Creative Director, Grey New York, said: “At IHG Hotels & Resorts, you are not just staying somewhere, you’re actually being looked after and able to guest in whatever way that works for you – and that’s the story we are telling with this campaign.”