From the luxury Regent brand's U.S. revival to the acquisition of an "urban-micro" hotel brand, IHG Hotels & Resorts is on a global growth streak.
"I think we might get the award for launching the most brands right before or during a pandemic," IHG's Chief Development Officer for the Americas Julienne Smith told Hotel News Now in a video interview recorded during the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference.
She was referring to the company's midscale Avid, upscale Voco, upper-midscale Atwell Suites and midscale Garner brands, but IHG's recent brand portfolio growth extends beyond those four. The company's new joiners are gaining traction now that the pandemic pause is in the past, she said.
Avid's first hotel opened in 2018 and had 76 open at the end of 2024, with the goal to "triple the open hotel number in the next couple of years," Smith said.
Atwell had six open at the end of 2024, Voco had 87 — with a large chunk in EMEA and the Greater China region — and Garner had 23 open.
More recently, the company celebrated the revival of the luxury Regent brand, with the first U.S. Regent since IHG acquired the majority of the brand opening in Santa Monica, California.
Growing luxury has been a priority for the company, which was built on the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands.
"We had the InterContinental brand, but not a lot in between," Smith said. The acquisitions of the Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and Six Senses brands built up the company's luxury portfolio, as did the subsequent launches of the Vignette Collection soft brand, expansion of InterContinental and the 51% acquisition of Regent.
"Our pipeline is now 20% luxury and lifestyle, which was not the case ... when I joined IHG," she said.
The company most recently acquired its 20th brand, the Germany-based "urban-micro" Ruby Hotels, for €110.5 million ($115.8 million).
Smith said to expect more news about the brand's U.S. goals by the end of 2025, but it won't be "a growth brand" to the scale of Holiday Inn Express, for example.
"Ruby is more lean lifestyle. It's going to be in urban markets, maybe strong college markets, strong secondary markets ... for that traveler who's looking for a more urban experience," she said.
Watch the video above for more from Smith on IHG's hotel conversion statistics, its partnership with Avana Companies on a co-lending construction lending program and more.
Correction, April 10, 2025: The story was updated to reflect the correct number of Voco hotels open at the end of 2024.