Four Global Management Updates from IHG
- EDITOR
- Apr 30
- 9 min read
Travel Editors recognize IHG’s luxury and lifestyle brands
Annual awards announcements credit new examples of Six Senses, Regent and Kimpton.
APRIL 2025, LONDON: Each year, editors and experts from the world’s top travel titles gather to determine the best new hotels. These independently selected shortlists celebrate new ways of seeing the world and give readers a guiding light for future travel plans.
The IHG hotels listed within this year’s round ups include:
AFAR’S BEST NEW HOTELS OF 2025
Regent Santa Monica Beach“unbeatable location across from the beach”
Six Senses La Sagesse“wellness programs that feel connected to the place”
TRAVEL + LEISURE IT LIST
Awarded amongst the ‘Best New City Hotels’
Six Senses Kyoto“The spa is a halcyon highlight”
Regent Shanghai on the Bund“Every repeat stroll through the halls revealed a new artful detail”“the Regent Experience agents were heaven-sent”
Awarded within ‘Best New US Resorts’
Regent Santa Monica Beach“knock-your-socks-off delicious”
Recognised amongst ‘Best New Affordable Luxury Hotels’
Kimpton BEM Budapest“neoclassical exterior belies the flamboyant, quintessentially Kimpton style within”
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER HOT LIST
Six Senses Kyoto“serene and crafted”“In an expansive wellness space, modern science meets traditional healing”
Six Senses La Sagesse“In classic Six Senses style, wellness is a key protagonist”
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELLER WELLNESS & SPA AWARDS 2025
Six Senses Vana“a destination of pure and noble intent”“this discreet and ravishingly designed modern hideaway, vibrating with birdsong and the scent of jasmine, marked the dawn of a new era of wellbeing in India”
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER: THE GOLD LIST 2025
Six Senses Zighy Bay“Sustainability is at the core”“the infrastructure is truly impressive”
These awards pay tribute to the journey IHG has been on to become one of the industry’s most innovative players. Strategic acquisitions and new brand launches over the past five has doubled IHG’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio from one to six brands with more than 500 properties spanning 70 countries.
The spotlight now turns to the 38th annual Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards with more than 300 IHG properties shortlisted and gathering votes. The longest running recognition in the travel industry, Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards is voted for by global readers of the magazine worldwide. To vote, visit: UK voting site | US voting site.
IHG Hotels & Resorts continues expansion of Queensland estate as Holiday Inn returns to Townsville
Wednesday 30th April 2025, Townsville, Australia: IHG Hotels & Resorts is excited to announce a partnership with Luxora Hotels to return the globally recognised Holiday Inn brand to Townsville, continuing the expansion of IHG’s Queensland estate.
Centrally positioned in the heart of Townsville’s CBD, on the corner of Stanley Street and the vibrant Flinders Street nightlife hub, the property will undergo an extensive refurbishment before converting to Holiday Inn Townsville in early 2026. The hotel is perfectly located near Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Queensland Tropics Museum and Townsville Yacht Club and once complete, the 93-room Holiday Inn Townsville will bring the brand’s signature hospitality and innovative design to the region.
Holiday Inn Townsville will feature a modern all-day dining restaurant and extensive conference and events facilities, catering to both leisure and corporate travellers. Guests will also enjoy the Holiday Inn ‘Open Lobby’ concept - a vibrant, flexible space that seamlessly blends dining, social, and work areas.
Cameron Burke, IHG Development Director Australasia & Pacific, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Luxora Hotels to bring our Holiday Inn brand to Townsville, and we look forward to supporting Luxora in its vision to create Townsville’s leading midscale hotel. As part of the world’s largest brand family, we expect Holiday Inn to resonate with domestic and international travellers to Townsville and Far North Queensland more broadly.“
Queensland is in an exciting growth phase and this latest announcement continues our broader regional expansion strategy.“It has been announced that several Olympic events will be held in Townsville and this, combined with the city serving as a strategic hub for industries including mining, energy and defence contributes to Townsville's thriving economic and tourism landscape.“The introduction of the globally recognised Holiday Inn brand reinforces IHG’s commitment to delivering world-class hospitality and expand its footprint in one of Australia’s most dynamic tourism and business destinations.
James Zhao, Luxora Hotels, said: “We’re proud to collaborate with IHG to bring this exciting project to Townsville. Upon opening, Holiday Inn Townsville will deliver the exceptional, warm and welcoming experiences the brand is known for across the world and support the region’s tourism and business sectors. We are also pleased to be working with La Vie Hotels and Resorts who will operate the hotel.”
IHG Hotels & Resorts has 76 hotels in Australasia operating under nine brands – Six Senses, InterContinental, Kimpton, Vignette Collection, Hotel Indigo, voco, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express, with another 26 properties in its development pipeline.
IHG Hotels & Resorts Strengthens Position Across Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean
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Recent Openings and Signings Span Portfolio in Region’s Key Leisure and Business Travel Destinations
ATLANTA (April, 2025) – As a featured presenter and patron sponsor of this week’s Americas Lodging Investment Summit Caribbean & Latin America (ALIS CALA) conference, IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) reaffirms its strength and commitment to growth within Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean (MLAC). The nearly 400* open and pipeline IHG properties throughout the region span every segment, encompassing a strategic mix of city, suburban and coastal destinations and offering greater choice for business and leisure travelers.
Across MLAC, IHG maintains a significant Luxury & Lifestyle presence and expects to add 32 hotels spanning its six segment brands in the coming years. This builds on 2024 openings including Six Senses La Sagesse Grenada, Kimpton Mas Olas Resort and Spa (Baja California, Mexico) and Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman. Many of these will offer branded residences beyond guest rooms and suites, including a forthcoming joint Kimpton hotel and residence offering in Tulum, Mexico.
IHG also offers a prominent mix of iconic and emerging midscale brands in the region, led by more than 200 open and pipeline properties across the Holiday Inn brand family. The growing avid hotels brand is on track to more than double its reach in Mexico and extend its appeal for value conscious travelers with nine new properties on the way, including a dual brand pairing with Candlewood Suites in Torreon. For design conscious travelers needing flexible space, Atwell Suites will make its regional debut in Costa Rica as part of a recently signed dual brand pairing with Holiday Inn.
Jolyon Bulley, Chief Executive Officer, Americas at IHG, said: “From idyllic tropical getaways to well-located destinations for urban escapes and corporate travel, IHG continues its solid growth across Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean. With nearly 100 properties set to join our regional portfolio in the coming years, our continued expansion highlights the trust owners and guests have in our brands and their distinct offerings.”
Additional recent and notable IHG branded property openings and signings throughout the region include:
InterContinental Presidente Monterrey: Opened in January 2025, InterContinental Presidente Monterrey stands tall above the city’s San Pedro Garza Garcia neighborhood and offers scenic views of the Sierra Madre de Chipinque mountains. The hotel’s nearly 300 guest rooms provide tranquil unwinding space while also integrating touches of the personalized service and luxurious amenities that have defined the world-leading InterContinental brand for more than 75 years.
SOUMA Hotel Lima, Vignette Collection: The first South American Vignette Collection hotel opened in March 2025 with minimalist design and décor inspired by Peru’s Pacaya Samiria Nature Reserve. Located in Lima’s vibrant Miraflores neighborhood and adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, SOUMA Hotel Lima invites guests into a harmonious oasis defined by three signature restaurants, an expansive rooftop with a heated infinity pool, and the Bambu Spa. SOUMA Hotel Lima also is the first of several planned IHG Luxury & Lifestyle hotels in the Peruvian capital, with the InterContinental Real Lima Miraflores and Hotel Indigo Lima Miraflores scheduled to open later this year.
voco Hermosillo: Reopened in late 2024 following an extensive conversion, the 138 room voco Hermosillo invites guests to “come on in” and experience the premium brand’s familiar charm and modern and thoughtful design. Located on the heavily traveled Kino Boulevard, voco Hermosillo offers convenient access to major regional corporate offices (Deloitte, Pepsico) along with notable city attractions such as the Cathedral of Hermosillo, the Sonora Museum of Art and La Ruina Park.
avid hotel Queretaro Centro Sur: Opened in March 2025, avid hotel Queretaro Centro Sur is the brand’s fifth Mexico property and first in the state of Queretaro. The hotel brings avid hotels’ “essentials done exceptionally well at a fair price” promise to the bustling area, offering a new alternative for travelers seeking quality, comfort and convenience in the mid-range segment. avid hotel Queretaro Centro Sur also boasts proximity to many of the state’s most visited destinations and cultural outlets, including the Acueducto de Querétaro, the Querétaro Congress Center and Corregidora Stadium.
Kimpton Monterrey: Scheduled to open in 2026, Kimpton Monterrey will bring a new boutique luxury hotel and branded residences to Mexico’s second largest economic market. Kimpton Monterrey will occupy space in the new build, mixed use Torre Rise, which will be the tallest tower in Latin America upon its completion. In addition to panoramic city and mountain views, the hotel will invite guests to sample its signature inspired bar and restaurant experiences through a full-service restaurant and 16th floor lobby lounge.
IHG to unveil second Holiday Inn & Suites in Japan
195-room Holiday Inn & Suites Sapporo Odori Park will open in late 2025Expanding the presence of one of the world’s most loved and trusted brands in Japan
April 2025 – Tokyo, Japan: IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, announced today an agreement with Minami Nijo Operations, a wholly-owned subsidiary of World Brands Collection Hotels & Resorts, to open Japan’s second Holiday Inn & Suites later this year, which will be owned by a fund managed by Goldman Sachs.
The 195-room Holiday Inn & Suites Sapporo Odori Park will open in late 2025 following an extensive renovation which includes all guest rooms, the addition of a new gym, and the introduction of a lobby café as part of Holiday Inn’s Open Lobby concept, a design-led and versatile space where guests can choose how they connect and relax.
When it opens, Holiday Inn & Suites Sapporo Odori Park will join more than 1,200 Holiday Inn hotels and resorts around the world and eight Holiday Inn hotels in Japan. The brand has consistently evolved over the years, placing guests at the centre of its innovation and earning the reputation as one of the world’s most loved, trusted and recognised hotel brands.
Abhijay Sandilya, CEO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan and Managing Director of IHG Hotels & Resorts Japan & Micronesia, said: “We’re excited to be working in partnership with World Brands Collection Hotels & Resorts and Goldman Sachs to bring the Holiday Inn & Suites brand to the centre of Sapporo and lead this hotel into an exciting new chapter.“At IHG, we have developed the brands, enterprise platform and excellent capabilities needed to successfully attract conversion opportunities and have them open in short time frames offering guests new experiences and options whether they are travelling for leisure, business or blended travel.“This agreement adds to what will be the biggest year ever for the Holiday Inn brand family in Japan. Since the start of 2025 we have returned the brand to Kyoto and are set to open three more hotels under the Holiday Inn brand this year, including in Tokyo.”
Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, is a bustling metropolis surrounded by incredible nature. It is renowned for beautiful seasonal scenery, great food experiences including fresh seafood and a year-round calendar of events including the annual Sapporo Snow Festival.
The Hokkaido area continues to grow in popularity with a 40% increase in international travellers in 2024 versus 2019. Also, international weekly flight numbers have continued to increase during the first quarter of 2025 exceeding 2019 levels for the first time.
Hiroshi Komoto, Representative Director and President of World Brands Collection Hotels & Resorts said: “Following our successful collaboration with IHG on the debut of the Six Senses brand in Japan, it’s wonderful to be expanding our partnership into a new segment and new destination.“The Holiday Inn brand is globally recognised and enables visitors to stay with a brand they know and trust. We believe this property will be a fantastic choice for travellers to explore the beauty and wonders of Sapporo when it opens.”
Holiday Inn & Suites Sapporo Odori Park will offer a choice of rooms or suites as well as a range of facilities including a gym, meeting spaces, a restaurant and a large public bath on an upper floor of the hotel.
Located at the end of the well-known Tanukikoji Shopping Street in the popular downtown Susukino area, and a short walk to Odori Park, which is host to many events, the hotel will cater to both international and domestic travellers.
IHG Hotels & Resorts operates five hotels in Hokkaido across three brands – Vignette Collection, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts and looks forward to the debut of the InterContinental brand later this year with the opening of InterContinental Sapporo.
Across Japan, IHG operates 52 hotels across 10 brands, with 14 hotels in the pipeline.
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