IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) recently outlined its strategies to help premium portfolio owners drive hotel performance and
revenue and elevate the guest experience during its first IHG Americas Premium Investor and Leadership Conference. Held May 8-10 at the voco Chicago Downtown hotel, the conference brought together more than 500 owners, CEOs, sponsors and corporate colleagues for three energizing days of networking, presentations and discussion on supercharged brand delivery and profitability.
The conference focused on the recent successes and continued evolution of four key brands: Hotel Indigo (part of IHG’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio) and Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, voco hotels and EVEN Hotels (among IHGpremium portfolio of).
Elie Maalouf, CEO, Americas, IHG Hotels and Resorts said: “IHG has enjoyed a dominant position in the mainstream category while gaining solid momentum in luxury and premium. As the global leader in these spaces, we continue to invest in strengthening our premium brands to make every dollar count for hotels and owners and build trust for our guests. Our Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, voco hotels and EVEN Hotels brands represent nearly 1,000 properties open or under development worldwide. We see many opportunities to introduce these compelling brands to broader audiences and create many more memorable experiences.”
Hotel Indigo: the neighborhood hotel of the world
Fueled by a growth rate that will see it open more than 200* global hotels in the next three years, and a pipeline of projects that would nearly double the size of its current property, Hotel Indigo continues to receive a warm welcome in more neighborhoods around the world. . And with a renewed focus on delivering authentic, local and personalized guest experiences, the launch of a new service program and an upcoming global marketing campaign, Hotel Indigo continues to be a pioneer in the “higher lifestyle” space.
Hotel Indigo’s strength lies in its flexibility, with a concept that can vary in location and build type (including new build, conversion or adaptive reuse), is efficient to operate and integrates touches of local culture, history and style. Just as no two neighborhoods are the same, the brand’s “Neighborhood Hotel” approach ensures that each Hotel Indigo will feature distinct designs and experiences rich in local sights, sounds and flavors. This enthusiasm and momentum resulted in 18 global openings in 2022, with eight in the Americas, including its South American debut in the Galapagos Islands, and three New York City properties including, and notable recent firms in Washington, DC and Panama City, Florida. .
Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts: Bold Moves for Package Travel
With 398 hotels open worldwide, including a recently opened property in Ft. Myers, Fla., and an additional 118 in the global portfolio, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts continues to be the cornerstone of IHGpremium wallet from . And as the needs of today’s travelers continue to change, the Crowne Plaza brand is evolving its design with even more flexible spaces and experiences that accommodate the growing desire to combine work and play.
Crowne Plaza’s commitment to delivering a full-service premium hotel experience includes a new building model that is scalable for different markets and footprints, and is prominently displayed among upcoming openings in Wilmington, NC and Mexico City and Durango, Mexico . In addition, 70 percent of Crowne Plaza’s ownership in the Americas has been or will be renovated by 2025. Crowne Plaza hotels will also benefit from expanded field operations support and significant investment in a multimedia campaign in the second half. of the year featuring both exclusive Crowne Plaza marketing and prominent placement in IHG Masterbrand marketing.
voco hotels: turning speed into growth
Introduced in 2018, voco hotels is not only IHGThe newest premium brand of, but it is also on its way to becoming the fastest growing brand in the company’s history. With 46 hotels open in 18 countries and another 59 in the pipeline globally, voco hotels is already more than halfway towards its goal of reaching 200 hotels open or planned by 2028. These include the opening by the end of 2022 of the Windy City hotel, conference venue. and recently signed properties in popular tourist destinations like Times Square in New York City and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
The conference reinforced the role of soft design for voco hotels in its accelerated growth, specifically by establishing lower conversion costs for owners and ease of integration for IHG’s business support and rebranding model. In turn, voco hotels owners can retain critical elements of the business and individuality of an existing hotel while quickly introducing a new combination of brand personality and features. Through this model, The Cadence voco hotel in Niagara Falls opened in December 2022 within 60 days of signing.
EVEN Hotels: “Well” on the way to an even brighter future
Fresh off the evolution of its own brand, EVEN Hotels is committed to elevated premium design and amenities that welcome wellness-conscious travelers, all with an emphasis on the different meanings of “travel well” for each guest. Along the way, EVEN Hotels is seeking a balance that generates healthy profits for owners as it looks to expand beyond its current batch of 23 hotels open and 32 in the pipeline around the world.
The future of EVEN Hotels will expand on its roots, including three room models with a variety of in-room exercise experiences and the introduction of the EVEN Kitchen & Bar offering with options that cater to the tastes of those trying to eat healthy at the road and others looking for more indulgent meals and snacks. And through a revamped prototype, EVEN Hotels aims to reduce time and costs to build and drive operational efficiencies at the front-of-house. Guests will begin to see elements of the new EVEN Hotels at seven global properties scheduled to open this year, including leading US hotels in Austin, Texas and Bozeman, Mont.
