New design launches soon
The design will be rolled out across Europe, the Middle East, Asia & Africa (EMEAA) when it’s launched later this year.
Holiday Inn Express Next Generation 5 will make its debut in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia when Holiday Inn Express Riyadh opens its doors in 2026, with 10 projects in the UK and Continental Europe confirmed as early adopters, and a further 20 having expressed interest.
The new design was created following significant investment into research on guest behaviour, the future of work, entertainment, well-being, food and drink, and digital experience.
It will introduce experiential zones, as well as multiple social areas such as the EXPRESS Café & Bar. IHG has also taken the needs of people with a disability into account, working with a task force to ensure the spaces are easily navigable by a diverse range of people.
The new design also meets the needs of hotel owners by allowing design flexibility and scalability in a way that’s mindful of cost and remains financially competitive, while continuing to drive performance and returns.
Embracing a more lifestyle-oriented experience, Generation 5 will bring to life the diversity of EMEAA’s markets. Each hotel will offer a sense of its destination with a nod to the local aesthetic and vibe, while always remaining true to the Holiday Inn Express brand.
Continual evolution
John Wright, Vice President, Mainstream Brands, EMEAA, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “At IHG, we are continually evolving and investing in our brands to meet the needs of our guests and owners, and our new Holiday Inn Express Generation 5 design is a great example of this.”
“Generation 5 is a premium, vibrant, and dynamic design that leans into a lifestyle vibe that’s on trend. Its playful and distinctive nature defines the witty personality of Holiday Inn Express, while its flexibility ensures each hotel reflects a sense of place, with contemporary artwork and nods to its location.”
“Generation 5 will ensure the Holiday Inn Express brand continues to meet the needs of mainstream travellers through experiential zones which are designed around their lifestyles – from Focus Studio with quiet areas to the energising and enlivening EXPRESS Café & Bar. This will increase guest dwell time outside of their rooms, while the efficient layout will boost performance and owner returns.”
Holiday Inn Express guest rooms will continue to offer a balance of comforts with smart design features, such as flexible workspaces, ergonomically designed chairs, ample USB ports and plug sockets, higher quality bedding, and Smart TVs that enable them to stream media from a personal device.
There are 3,206 (340,054 rooms) Holiday Inn Express hotels open around the world, with 644 properties (79,079 rooms) in its growing pipeline.
Holiday Inn Express is the world’s biggest hotel brand and is set to reach 500 open and pipeline properties in EMEAA over the next three years.
