In 2025, IHG Hotels & Resorts celebrates fifty years since opening its first hotel in China. Now, with travel in China bouncing back following the pandemic, the group is poised to continue supporting its growth for the next fifty years.
In 2024, the tourism sector in Greater China continued to recover, with tourism spending and the volume of travellers both exceeding previous peaks in 2019. “With the surge in domestic and inbound tourism, we see an even more exciting future in the region. Looking ahead, we remain confident in the growth opportunities within our industry, proudly supported by our extensive brand portfolio,” said Daniel Aylmer, CEO of IHG in Greater China.
A portfolio of brand choices
Over its first 50 years in China, IHG has launched hotels under 13 of its brands, and even developed Hualuxe, a brand specifically tailored for the Chinese market. It numbers more than 1,300 hotels open or in its signed pipeline, across more than 200 cities.
The rollout of more brands in China saw the group launch its lifestyle brand, Atwell Suites, in the country during 2024. In the coming weeks and months it will open Atwell Suites Hangzhou West Lake, Atwell Suites Shenzhen Nanshan, and Atwell Suites Shanghai Wuning as the brand gains momentum and an understanding among Chinese developers.
More IHG hotels will open in visitor hotspots this year. The busy holiday destination of Hainan will see the launch during 2025 of two luxury and lifestyle hotels, Kimpton Aqeos Hainan and Hotel Indigo Hainan Clear Water Bay. And in major city locations, the group will add Kimpton Hong Kong TST and Holiday Inn Express Shanghai on The Bund. In Chongqing, there will be a new Hualuxe hotel, while the Even brand will arrive in Quanzhou.
Across the IHG portfolio, a number of brands are focused more directly on the business traveller, and select locations will feed the needs of this type of guest. Additions on the way include InterContinental Changchun High Tech Zone, Hotel Indigo Chengdu Financial City and Crowne Plaza Guangzhou Window of Canton.
Building out the Holiday Inn family
Many IHG hotels are at key transportation hubs around the globe. And in China, the situation is also played out, with such locations proving popular places to stay, for those wishing to easily get around using public transport. This year, IHG will play its part, adding Holiday Inn Shanghai Pudong Airport and Holiday Inn Express Taipei Train Station.
Around the globe, one key characteristic of this latest wave of development has been the pace at which the big brand groups have signed conversions, both switching existing hotels to more familiar brands, as well as converting other building types to become hotels. IHG has developed flexible brands including Vignette Collection and Voco, to support this activity. This year’s openings in China will include conversions such as Hangzhou Wulin GDA Hotel, Vignette Collection and voco Chengdu Chunxi Road.
