This expansion comes at a time of rapid development for China’s culture and tourism industries following the growth of domestic tourism and the opening of international borders.
The recovery of China’s tourism
IHG Hotels & Resorts is on track to expand across Greater China as it heightens the presence of its diverse hotel brands in both popular and emerging destinations across the country. This growth will help China accommodate the increasing number of domestic travellers and the return of international tourists following the reopening of this country’s borders.
Commenting on the recovery of tourism in China, Daniel Aylmer, Managing Director, IHG Greater China, said: “With multiple domestic travel incentives and the steady recovery of the tourism industry, we believe that the Chinese market is poised for strong growth.”
“The recent boom in travel for Chinese New Year has laid a strong foundation for the continued development of the culture and tourism sector this year. With a long-standing commitment to being ‘In China, for China’, IHG remains confident in the market and strives to lead the industry with our portfolio of Luxury & Lifestyle, Premium and Essential brands, offering high-end modernity and quality accommodation. We are continuously enriching our brand portfolio through partnerships, delivering distinctive new hotels that showcase the beauty of China to travellers.”
The hotel company currently has more than 1,000 hotels operating or in the pipeline under 12 brands in Greater China. The forthcoming expansion will see the group cover more than 200 of China’s cities.
Heightening its Luxury & Lifestyle offering
In line with the evolution of high-end tourism in China, IHG has worked on strengthening the presence of its Luxury & Lifestyle brands.
For the luxury Regent brand, this includes undergoing a remodelling plan that will define its legacy at landmark locations. The brand’s second Shanghai hotel, Regent Shanghai in The Bund, will open in the second half of this year.
The group’s flagship brand, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts will focus its expansion on resort destinations near economic areas. InterContinental Shanghai Harbour City is now newly upgraded and InterContinental Shenzhen WECC is on track to opening later this year.
The boutique hotel sector is another focus for the group with the growth of brands such as Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. The brand recently made its China debut with an opening in Suzhou and Shanghai Kimpton Qiantan is to open in the second half of 2023.
Another of the group’s boutique hotel brands, Hotel Indigo, reflects the neighbourhoods it becomes a part of through properties like Hotel Indigo Guangzhou Haixinsha, which opens this summer.
Catering for every type of traveller
The rise in “bleisure” travel then draws attention to the group’s Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts brand, which is constantly evolving to cater for the modern work era. The brand’s openings in 2023 will provide new accommodation options in popular destinations like Hangzhou.
The upgraded HUALUXE Hotels and Resorts 2.0, curated to provide guests with immersive Chinese cultural experiences, will make its entrance to popular destinations like Sanya, while voco focuses on sustainable living at properties including the upgraded voco Guangzhou Shifu.
The newly rebranded EVEN Hotels meets travellers’ demands for a healthy lifestyle at recently opened properties like EVEN Hotel Suzhou Grand Canal, which will soon be joined by new hotels in first-tier cities and the Greater Bay Area.
Iconic essential brands add to this portfolio’s growth. Holiday Inn is continuing its local focus, with openings in destinations like Chengdu, while the rapidly growing Holiday Inn Express brand will continue its expansion with openings in lower-tier cities and destinations that are close to major transportation hubs.
