UK, Ireland, Hungary, Greece, Sweden, Türkiye, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Spain, and more are at the heart of a sweeping travel and tourism boom as IHG Hotels & Resorts unleashes nine powerful hotel brands across 13 European countries. From luxury icons like Kimpton and InterContinental to fast-growing essentials such as Holiday Inn Express and Garner Hotels, IHG is redefining the European hospitality landscape with bold signings, grand openings, and strategic conversions. This brand rollout, spanning from January 2024 to March 2025, reflects IHG’s ambitious expansion strategy across Luxury & Lifestyle, Premium, Essentials, and Suites segments—reshaping how travelers explore, visit, and stay across Europe’s top destinations.

IHG Hotels & Resorts, a global titan in hospitality, is spearheading a sweeping European expansion, introducing nine of its iconic hotel brands across 13 countries between January 2024 and March 2025. This bold move reaffirms IHG’s commitment to redefining the European travel and tourism experience across its four powerhouse segments: Luxury & Lifestyle, Premium, Essentials, and Suites.

This travel and tourism surge arrives as IHG’s European footprint—including the UK and Ireland—soars past 1,100 open and pipeline hotels. Backed by robust owner confidence and strong guest demand, IHG Hotels & Resorts is not only shaping European hospitality but also invigorating travel trends through brand innovation, dynamic conversions, and regionally tailored experiences.

Karin Sheppard, SVP and Managing Director, Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented: “Our focus on developing in high-growth markets is reflected in the number of country entries made by our brands in recent months. Every new hotel contributes to a dynamic portfolio that has grown to more than 1,100 hotels open or in development across 39 countries – testament to the exciting future that lies ahead for our business in Europe. 

“Successful brand development and growth would not happen without the work our teams do to drive the performance of our existing hotels – all of which is supported by the IHG enterprise. From driving loyalty contribution and rolling out new technology, to investment in marketing, meaningful partnerships, and programmes to support sustainability and procurement, our holistic approach to growth is demonstrating value to our hotel owners who see long-term confidence in IHG and our brands.”

Luxury & Lifestyle Segment: Travel in Style with Vignette, Kimpton, InterContinental and More

IHG’s Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio—encompassing six acclaimed brands including Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo, and Vignette Collection—commands a powerful presence in Europe. These hotel brands now represent 12% of IHG’s current operational hotels (103 properties) and a massive 27% of the development pipeline (71 hotels), signaling vibrant opportunities for growth in travel and tourism.

Vignette Collection, a brand known for celebrating individuality, has made impressive debuts in 2024. The Halyard in Liverpool, UK, and Verno House in Budapest, Hungary, launched under the Vignette flag. Looking ahead, The Chania Hotel in Crete will mark the brand’s first entry into Greece.

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, synonymous with bold design and upscale experiences, expanded into Hungary with the launch of the 127-room Kimpton BEM Palace Budapest. Additionally, Kimpton is extending its footprint in Greece with the Kimpton La-Mer Resort & Spa Crete, further cementing the brand’s luxury travel influence across the Mediterranean.

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, IHG’s flagship luxury brand, crossed a milestone in 2024 with over 225 hotels globally. Europe saw the brand’s first opening in Serbia with the grand InterContinental Belgrade, a 203-room hotel set to elevate the Serbian travel experience.

Premium Segment: Fast-Track Conversions and New Signings with voco, Crowne Plaza, and Ruby

IHG’s Premium segment is gaining rapid traction, particularly through its conversion-focused strategy. In 2024 alone, over 80% of IHG’s new European openings were conversions—testament to the brand’s flexibility and the confidence of independent hoteliers in joining the IHG family.

voco Hotels, the group’s stylish, sustainably-minded premium brand, has continued its aggressive European rollout. The 201-room voco Stockholm – Kista marked the brand’s debut in Sweden. Simultaneously, IHG signed its first voco property in Türkiye, set to open in Antalya in late 2025.

Crowne Plaza, IHG’s upscale business-centric brand, is pushing forward in Europe with a pipeline that equals nearly 20% of its current open hotel count. Montenegro joined the Crowne Plaza family in 2024 with the opening of Crowne Plaza Podgorica, a sleek 112-room property tailored for business and leisure travelers alike.

In a major strategic move, IHG acquired Ruby Hotels in February 2025. Within six weeks, the brand has seen its first two signings, including a landmark hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark—marking Ruby’s entry into the Scandinavian market.

Essentials Segment: Holiday Inn Express, Garner Hotels, and the niu Partnership Lead Europe’s Midscale Market

IHG’s Essentials brands form the backbone of its European portfolio, making up nearly 70% of the company’s open hotels in the region. The Essentials segment includes the globally renowned Holiday Inn Express, the midscale icon Holiday Inn, and the recently introduced Garner Hotels.

Garner Hotels, designed as a flexible midscale conversion brand, has made a monumental debut across Europe in 2024. The brand launched with 56 initial signings in April and opened its first hotel in November. In under a year, nearly 20 Garner hotels have launched in Germany, starting with Hamburg, with additional locations now open in Austria (Klagenfurt), The Netherlands (Maastricht), and the UK (Preston and Edinburgh). Rome, Italy and Arnavutkoy, Türkiye, are also confirmed for upcoming Garner openings.

Holiday Inn – the niu, a collaborative concept with NOVUM Hospitality, blends localized design with global brand power. With more than 40 open properties across Europe, this partnership has accelerated IHG’s essentials growth while offering travelers memorable, regionally inspired experiences.

Suites Segment: Extended-Stay Brands Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites Expand Across Europe

As traveler behavior evolves toward longer, more flexible stays, IHG’s Suites segment is thriving. The extended-stay category—which includes Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites—is experiencing growth that surpasses its current footprint, with 15 hotels in the pipeline versus 11 currently open.

Candlewood Suites, known for comfort and value over extended periods, is making its European debut in 2025, backed by a long-term franchise agreement with NOVUM Hospitality. The agreement includes 14 signings for Germany, a country poised to become the launchpad for the brand’s regional presence.

Staybridge Suites also celebrated a notable opening in 2024 with the Staybridge Suites Malaga, bringing 105 suites to Spain’s Urban Sky development. This marks Staybridge’s eleventh hotel in Europe and reflects the increasing demand for flexible accommodation in leisure and business markets alike.

IHG’s European Footprint as of December 2024: Growth by the Numbers

IHG’s success across Europe is evident in its rapidly expanding footprint. As of 31 December 2024, the group operates 878 hotels across 39 countries, with another 260 hotels in active development. Some of the standout market leaders include:

• United Kingdom – 355 open hotels
• Germany – 147 hotels
• France – 71 hotels
• Spain – 57 hotels

These numbers underscore IHG’s commitment to expanding hotel options for travelers seeking everything from budget-friendly stays to luxurious getaways.

UK, Ireland, Hungary, Greece, Sweden, Türkiye, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Spain, and more are witnessing IHG Hotels & Resorts ignite a travel and tourism boom with the launch of nine powerful hotel brands across 13 European countries. This dynamic expansion spans luxury, premium, essentials, and suites, redefining hospitality across the continent.

Final Thoughts: IHG’s European Growth Sets the Standard for Travel and Tourism in 2025

IHG Hotels & Resorts has solidified its position as a dominant force in the European travel landscape. From luxury retreats and chic urban escapes to budget-savvy conversions and extended-stay solutions, the group is responding to evolving guest expectations with purpose and precision.

As the global travel and tourism sector continues its post-pandemic resurgence, IHG’s expansive European rollout—featuring nine iconic hotel brands in 13 countries—highlights its strategic agility and guest-centric vision. For travelers, hotel owners, and tourism stakeholders, IHG’s footprint expansion is not just a milestone—it’s a new standard for global hospitality excellence.