SHANGHAI, China—IHG Hotels & Resorts recently announced Holiday Inn Express has surpassed 500 hotels in operation and pipeline in Greater China, marking a milestone for the upper midscale brand. Leveraging its offerings in ROI for owners, Holiday Inn Express has garnered attention from owners and investors since entering the market.
Jerome Qiu, chief operating officer of IHG Greater China said, “In the fiercely competitive midscale hotel market, Holiday Inn Express has consistently stayed true to its tenets of quality and reliability, setting a benchmark in the industry. With two decades in China, we have served as a pioneer in advancing the franchise model, actively growing into the local business travel market. Over the years, we have extended our brand footprint along convenient high-speed rail routes to offer owners a one-stop solution encompassing cooperation, investment, brand, product, and operations—continuously optimizing profitability. As of now, the brand enjoys a presence in all 34 provincial-level administrative regions. Looking ahead, over 27 cities will host five or more Holiday Inn Express hotels. With a total footprint exceeding 500 properties, Holiday Inn Express is poised to unlock further potential in China, reaffirming IHG’s steadfast commitment to this market.”
Globally, Holiday Inn Express has established itself in the region, with 3,131 operational hotels and 643 hotels in the pipeline as of Q3 2023. Of these, the Greater China region contributes 209 hotels in the pipeline, constituting one-third of the global total in the pipeline. This growth aligns with the brand’s vision.
With this 500th hotel milestone, IHG is reaffirming its commitment to investors through a five-pillar philosophy.
- Cooperation sincerity
- Investment satisfaction
- Brand confidence
- Product reassurance
- Operational ease
Kent Sun, chief development officer of IHG Greater China says, “Well known as a ‘post-90s’ brand, Holiday Inn Express has honed its strengths, momentum, and responsible leadership. For nearly two decades Greater China, it has shown remarkable development vitality and potential. From 1 to the 500th hotel, this milestone is the best proof of the brand’s investment value and market appeal. Holiday Inn Express’ growth trajectory is not only a testament to IHG’s unwavering confidence in the future of the China market but also a reflection of our consistent commitment to owners and customers.”
As the flagship for new signings in China, 80 percent of the new contract hotels for Holiday Inn Express follow the ‘Franchise +’ model. This provides owners management flexibility and autonomy but also, through IHG’s support and resource advantages, enhances investment security, and increases potential returns. Its team provides full-cycle system support for hotels, strengthening owners’ operational capabilities.
Lending more impact to this 500th hotel milestone, Holiday Inn Express has recently opened several hotels in cities and destinations. These include the Holiday Inn Express Beijing Downtown, Holiday Inn Express Wenchang, Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Hongqiao Linkong, Holiday Inn Express Hangzhou Airport, Holiday Inn Express Jiangmen East Station, Holiday Inn Express Shantou Chenghai, and among others.
