Development

IHG Hotels & Resorts grows Holiday Inn Express brand in leisure destinations

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced it is looking to expand its Holiday Inn Express brand in leisure destinations in 2021. The group already counts 277 hotels operating under the brand in Europe, with 11 properties signed across Europe in 2020 and over 60 more to open their doors in the next 3-5 years.

The brand was originally designed to cater to business travellers and short-term stays with limited service, lower-price accommodation, positioning it in the upper-economy segment. Recently the Holiday Inn Express brand was given a makeover with a ‘Next Generation’ guest room and public space design concepts to improve the guest experience. With this announcement, IHG firmly confirms its move towards targeting the leisure market, which is expected to fare better in the post-Covid recovery.

Willemijn Geels, Vice President, Development, Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts commented: “At IHG Hotels & Resorts, we take pride in the continued growth of our brands, and so I am delighted to see Holiday Inn Express entering new European leisure destinations which is a key focus for us this year. From airport and motorway locations to city centres, seaside locations and the opportunity to convert alongside new build opportunities, the brand delivers a consistent and reliable guest offer that has been resilient throughout Covid-19.”

Some of the most recent Holiday Inn Express openings showcasing the new concepts Europe include properties in France (Nice Grand Arenas), the UK (Bodmin Victoria Junction and Liverpool Duke Street), Switzerland (Basel Allschwil), Italy (Rome Airport) and Turkey (Ankara Airport).