IHG Hotels & Resorts
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA British multinational hospitality group operating and franchising a global portfolio of hotel brands.
Last updated August 21, 2026
Overview
IHG Hotels & Resorts is the trading name of InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, a British multinational hospitality company headquartered in Windsor, Berkshire. The group owns, leases, manages and, increasingly, franchises hotels across more than 100 countries. Its portfolio spans luxury, premium, essentials, suites and lifestyle accommodation, with brands including InterContinental, Regent, Six Senses, Kimpton, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites, Staybridge Suites, voco, avid hotels, Garner and Vignette Collection. The company’s corporate ancestry reaches back to Bass Brewery, established by William Bass in 1777. Bass entered lodging through tied public houses and launched the Crest Hotels chain in 1969. It expanded materially into hotels in 1988 by acquiring Holiday Inn International, later integrating most of Crest’s remaining properties into Holiday Inn. In 1998, Bass acquired the Inter-Continental hotel chain from Saison Group and renamed its lodging division Bass Hotels & Resorts. Bass sold its brewing operations and adopted the name Six Continents in 2001. Six Continents separated its hotel activities from its pubs and restaurants in April 2003. The hotel company became InterContinental Hotels Group, while the pub business became Mitchells & Butlers. At separation, the hotel portfolio contained 3,325 properties, principally under Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental. IHG subsequently pursued an asset-light strategy, selling most owned and leased hotels and emphasizing franchise and management contracts. Between 2003 and 2015, it sold approximately 200 hotels for almost $8 billion, leaving only a small number of owned or leased properties. The group broadened its brand architecture through acquisitions and development. Candlewood Suites was acquired in 2004, followed by Kimpton Hotels in 2015. The Kimpton transaction strengthened IHG’s presence in boutique and lifestyle hospitality. IHG also operates IHG One Rewards, a loyalty program used across its participating brands. According to the company’s reported 2024 operating information, the group had almost 6,500 hotels, approximately 2,200 additional properties in its development pipeline, and 19 brands marketed across five segments. IHG’s business model is centered on hotel franchising, third-party management, brand standards, reservations, loyalty, distribution and related commercial services rather than large-scale ownership of real estate. Its brands address both business and leisure travel, from upscale and luxury resorts to midscale hotels, extended-stay properties and affordable essentials. In 2024, IHG reported revenue of approximately $2.3 billion, operating profit of approximately $1.1 billion, and 371 hotel openings, according to the supplied reference material. In 2024 it also announced a major cooperation and franchise arrangement with Germany’s Novum Hospitality, under which more than 100 properties were expected to enter or be converted into IHG brands. In 2025, Onyria Group added two hotels in Cascais, Portugal, through a franchise partnership involving Vignette Collection and a future Kimpton property. IHG is listed on the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. Its global headquarters are in Windsor, with additional regional offices in Atlanta, Singapore and Shanghai. The company remains an active international hotel operator and franchisor, with its present strategy focused on brand expansion, fee-based growth, loyalty engagement and geographic development.
History
IHG’s history combines the development of a British brewing and hospitality business with the later creation of an international hotel franchising group. William Bass established Bass Brewery in Burton-upon-Trent in 1777. Bass later became Bass Charrington and expanded beyond brewing through tied public houses. Its first clearly identified hotel chain was Crest Hotels, launched in 1969. Regulatory limits on brewer ownership of pubs encouraged Bass to invest more heavily in hotels. In 1988, it acquired Holiday Inn International from its shareholders, giving the company a major position in international lodging. Bass disposed of most Crest properties in 1990, with the remaining hotels absorbed into Holiday Inn. The company then moved further upmarket in 1998 by acquiring the Inter-Continental hotel chain from Saison Group. The hotel division was renamed Bass Hotels & Resorts to reflect its broader portfolio. Bass sold its brewing assets and adopted the corporate name Six Continents in 2001. Bass Hotels & Resorts consequently became Six Continents Hotels. In October 2002, Six Continents announced a separation of its hotels and its pubs and restaurants. The transaction was completed on 15 April 2003: InterContinental Hotels Group became the independent hotel company, while Mitchells & Butlers held the pub and restaurant operations. The new group took its name from the InterContinental brand, using the non-hyphenated corporate spelling InterContinental. At its formation, IHG had 3,325 properties, mainly operating under Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental. Only 190 were owned or leased; most were managed or franchised. The group accelerated this distinction through an asset-disposal program. From 2003 to 2015 it sold approximately 200 hotels for almost $8 billion, shifting capital and strategic attention toward franchise fees, management contracts, brand standards and centralized commercial systems. IHG expanded its brand range through acquisitions and organic development. Candlewood Suites, a US extended-stay brand, joined the group in 2004. The company sold its remaining soft-drink interest in Britvic through a 2005 initial public offering, completing its exit from that non-hotel activity. In 2015, IHG acquired Kimpton Hotels, adding a substantial boutique and lifestyle platform. Later portfolio development added or strengthened luxury, resort, lifestyle, suites and midscale concepts, including Six Senses, Regent, Vignette Collection, voco and other brands. The COVID-19 pandemic produced a severe disruption to hotel demand. In 2021, IHG disclosed an annual loss of approximately $153 million attributed to restrictions and their effects on travel. The company nevertheless maintained a recovery strategy based on its broad geographic footprint, franchise model, loyalty program and demand from value-oriented brands such as Holiday Inn Express. During the 2020s, IHG continued to grow through partnerships and conversions rather than primarily through property ownership. Its 2024 agreement with Novum Hospitality was intended to bring more than 100 German properties into IHG brands after rebranding and refurbishment. In 2025, an agreement with Portugal’s Onyria Group added two Cascais hotels to the wider IHG system, including Onyria Marinha Cascais under Vignette Collection and a future Kimpton Quinta da Marinha Cascais. IHG now presents itself as a multi-brand global hospitality company. Its principal activities are hotel franchising and management, brand licensing, reservations, loyalty, sales and distribution. The company is headquartered in Windsor, operates regional offices in Atlanta, Singapore and Shanghai, and is listed in London and New York. Its long-term evolution has been from a mixed brewing, pub and hotel conglomerate into a predominantly asset-light international hotel platform.
- 2025
Onyria partnership expands the Cascais presence
[1]Two Onyria hotels in Cascais join the IHG portfolio through a franchise agreement, with one operating under Vignette Collection and a Kimpton opening planned.
- 2024
Novum Hospitality partnership announced
[1]IHG agrees to a major cooperation and franchise arrangement with Novum Hospitality covering more than 100 German properties.
- 2015
Kimpton Hotels is acquired
[1]IHG acquires Kimpton Hotels, strengthening its boutique and lifestyle hospitality offering.
- 2004
Candlewood Suites joins the group
[1]IHG acquires the US extended-stay Candlewood Suites brand.
- 2003
InterContinental Hotels Group is formed
[1]The Six Continents separation is completed, creating IHG as an independent hotel company alongside Mitchells & Butlers.
- 2001
Bass becomes Six Continents
[1]After disposing of its brewing assets and the Bass name, the company adopts the Six Continents name.
- 1998
Inter-Continental is acquired
[1]Bass buys the luxury Inter-Continental hotel chain from Saison Group and broadens its hotel portfolio.
- 1988
Holiday Inn International is acquired
[1]Bass acquires Holiday Inn International, substantially expanding its international lodging activities.
- 1969
Crest Hotels launches
[1]Bass enters the branded hotel-chain business with the launch of Crest Hotels.
- 1777
Bass Brewery is established
[1]William Bass establishes Bass Brewery in Burton-upon-Trent, providing the distant corporate origin of the later IHG group.
Products and positioning
A global, asset-light hospitality platform covering luxury, premium, midscale, essentials, suites and lifestyle lodging.
Luxury hotels and resorts
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
IHG’s internationally recognized luxury hospitality brand, derived from the Inter-Continental chain acquired by Bass in 1998. It serves upscale leisure and business travelers through prominent city hotels, resorts and destination properties.
Full-service hotels
Holiday Inn
A major full-service lodging brand within IHG’s portfolio. Holiday Inn became central to the group after Bass acquired Holiday Inn International in 1988 and absorbed remaining Crest properties into the chain.
Essentials and limited-service hotels
Holiday Inn Express
A value-oriented hotel brand focused on efficient stays, standardized accommodation and broad international distribution. IHG identified the brand as an important contributor to post-pandemic recovery.
Premium business and leisure hotels
Crowne Plaza
A premium hotel brand designed for business and leisure travelers, commonly located in major commercial, urban and destination markets. It was one of IHG’s principal brands at the group’s formation in 2003.
Boutique and lifestyle hotels · 2015
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
A boutique and lifestyle hospitality brand acquired by IHG in 2015. Kimpton broadened IHG’s design-led, individually characterized hotel offering and includes associated restaurant and guest-experience concepts.
Lifestyle hotels
Hotel Indigo
IHG’s lifestyle hotel concept, positioned around locally influenced design and neighborhood-oriented guest experiences. The brand complements the group’s traditional standardized full-service chains.
Luxury resorts and wellness hotels
Six Senses
A luxury hospitality brand associated with resorts, distinctive destinations, wellness and experiential travel. It represents IHG’s expansion into high-end resort and wellbeing-focused accommodation.
Luxury hotels and resorts
Regent Hotels & Resorts
A luxury hotel and resort brand within IHG’s upper-end portfolio, serving destination, leisure and high-value urban travel markets.
Extended-stay hotels · 2004
Candlewood Suites
An extended-stay lodging brand acquired by IHG in 2004. It is designed for longer visits and provides an alternative to conventional short-stay hotel accommodation.
Extended-stay hotels
Staybridge Suites
An IHG suites brand serving extended-stay guests, with a positioning distinct from the group’s conventional transient hotel formats.
Premium lifestyle hotels
voco
A premium hotel brand in IHG’s newer portfolio, intended to combine the scale of a global chain with a more individual and locally responsive guest experience.
Luxury and lifestyle collection
Vignette Collection
A collection brand that allows distinctive independent hotels to connect to IHG’s distribution and loyalty platform while retaining a degree of individual identity. Onyria Marinha Cascais joined this collection in Portugal.
Midscale hotels
Garner
A midscale IHG brand intended for broad distribution and efficient hotel operations. It is among the brands identified for conversion of selected Novum Hospitality properties in Germany.
Controversies
2017
Living-wage commitment criticism
London mayor Sadiq Khan publicly accused IHG of failing to meet a commitment to pay the living wage.
2012
Online travel-agent discounting investigation
The UK Office of Fair Trading alleged that IHG had breached competition law by preventing online travel agents from discounting room-only accommodation prices. IHG agreed in February 2014 to discontinue the practice.
2012
VAT inclusion in advertised prices
The UK Advertising Standards Authority warned IHG that advertised prices should include VAT. A later Which? report stated that the issue had continued.
Brand decisions
2025
Enter the Onyria Cascais franchise partnershipStrategyBackground
Onyria Group sought to place two Cascais hotels within an international hotel-brand and distribution system.
Action taken
IHG entered a franchise agreement covering the two hotels, including Onyria Marinha Cascais under Vignette Collection and a future Kimpton Quinta da Marinha Cascais.
Aftermath
Onyria retained ownership and management, while the hotels gained IHG brand, loyalty and distribution access. Renovation and new-space investment was reported at more than €5 million.
2024
Expand through the Novum Hospitality franchise partnershipStrategyBackground
IHG pursued additional scale in Germany through conversions and cooperation with an established hotel operator.
Action taken
The group agreed to rebrand and partly refurbish Novum Hospitality properties under Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites and Garner.
Aftermath
The arrangement was expected to increase IHG’s German portfolio by more than 100 hotels.
2015
Acquire Kimpton HotelsM&ABackground
IHG wanted to strengthen its position in boutique and lifestyle hospitality.
Action taken
IHG acquired Kimpton Hotels, whose portfolio included 62 managed properties.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded IHG’s lifestyle and boutique platform and added a differentiated brand to its international system.
Acquisition price. $430 million (2015)
2004
Acquire Candlewood SuitesM&ABackground
IHG sought to expand its presence in the US extended-stay segment.
Action taken
The company acquired Candlewood Suites, which had 108 franchised properties in the United States.
Aftermath
The acquisition added an extended-stay brand to IHG’s hotel portfolio.
Acquisition price. $15 million (2004)
2003
Adopt an asset-light hotel strategyStrategyBackground
After becoming independent from Six Continents, IHG held a portfolio in which most hotels were already managed or franchised rather than owned or leased.
Action taken
The group began disposing of owned and leased hotels and concentrated on franchising, management agreements, brands and commercial infrastructure.
Aftermath
From 2003 to 2015, approximately 200 hotels were sold for almost $8 billion, leaving only a small number of owned or leased properties.
Recent events
- 2025
Onyria Group adds Cascais hotels to IHG portfolio[1]
M&A · Product launch
Onyria Group entered a franchise partnership with IHG covering two hotels in Cascais. The arrangement included renovation and expansion investment, with one hotel operating under Vignette Collection and a Kimpton property planned for 2026.
- 2024
IHG announces cooperation and franchise agreement with Novum Hospitality[1]
M&A
IHG agreed with German operator Novum Hospitality to rebrand and partly refurbish more than 100 existing properties under IHG brands including Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites and Garner.
- 2024
IHG reports 2024 revenue, operating profit and hotel openings[1]
Other
The group reported approximately $2.3 billion in revenue, approximately $1.1 billion in operating profit and 371 hotel openings during 2024.
- 2021
IHG reports pandemic-related annual loss[1]
Other
IHG reported an annual loss of approximately $153 million for the preceding financial period as travel restrictions associated with COVID-19 affected hotel demand. The company identified Holiday Inn Express as an important part of its recovery prospects.
Sources11 sources
- 1IHG Hotels & Resortsen.wikipedia.org
- 2IHG Hotels & Resorts official websiteihg.com
- 3Holiday Inn Debuts New Hotel Design Near Denver Airportrustourismnews.com
- 4IHG Hotels & Resorts and Castello SGR set to debut the Kimpton brand in Rome - InterContinental Hotels Group PLCnews.google.com
- 5IHG launches in-room guest service solution IHG Studiobusinesstraveller.com
- 6IHG Launches Loyalty Partnership With Mr & Mrs Smith Hotelsfinance.yahoo.com
- 7IHG launches New Year flash salebusinesstraveller.com
- 8IHG to bring Garner Hotels brand to Middle East - Yahoo Financenews.google.com
- 9IHG to launch newest premium collection brand hotels in Japan for 1st time - Japan Wire by Kyodo Newsnews.google.com
- 10IHG宣布与国际青年成就达成全球合作，助力酒店业青年人才成长prnasia.com
- 11InterContinental Hotels Group launches Do Two campaign in Vietnamvir.com.vn
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