UK-based IHG Hotels & Resorts is accelerating its India expansion with an ambitious target to build a portfolio of 400 operational and pipeline properties in the country by 2030. According to Sudeep Jain, managing director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, as reported by Mint, the company currently operates 52 hotels in India with another 98 in the pipeline as of 2025. Globally, IHG had 6,963 hotels as of December 2025. Speaking to Business Standard, Jain emphasized that the India market's growth would continue to see an uptrend, with more Indians willing to travel and within the country.
IHG is broadening its focus beyond its traditional Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands to higher-end segments. As reported by Mint, the company has become more active in upper-upscale and luxury segments over the past two years, with visible increases in InterContinental and Crowne Plaza signings. Jain noted that IHG now has three operating luxury and lifestyle assets in the region with 10 more in the pipeline. The Indian portfolio is seeing a shift in mix, with greater emphasis on luxury and lifestyle hotels even as the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands continue to anchor the company's mainstream business. Globally, IHG's portfolio is two-thirds mainstream or essentials portfolio, which includes the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express family, with the share potentially coming down as more premium properties are added.
IHG is maintaining its asset-light model while keeping open to other structures as market conditions evolve. As reported by Business Standard, Jain said the company intends to keep to its asset-light model, but did not rule out other structures if market conditions evolve. "While we've significantly done contracts, no reason why we can't lift and shift as the market matures," he said when asked whether the company could consider owned assets in India. "As long as that discipline is maintained and there's a strong business case, I think we will evaluate and potentially do that... I don't think anything is off the table," Jain added. The company's India ambition is to reach 400 hotels operational and in the pipeline over the next five years.
IHG is experiencing exceptional momentum in hotel signings, with Jain telling Business Standard that the company is already on target to beat the records of last year. "This year, we are already on target to beat the records of last year," he said, adding that the company could match its full-year (calendar year) performance from last year by the third quarter itself. "I think we hopefully will reach in third quarter what we did for the whole of last year," Jain said. The company's expansion is being helped by India's broader growth story, with the fundamentally strong growing economy, infrastructure growth, and added preference for branded hotels as opposed to unbranded hotels lending to great growth.
In May, IHG announced a strategic partnership with Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) for a five-hotel portfolio, adding close to 1,500 rooms across key airport and commercial destinations in India. According to Mint, the development includes a luxury lifestyle brand Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants hotel in Jaipur, with the remaining properties being Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels linked to airport developments in Navi Mumbai, Mangaluru and Thiruvananthapuram. Jain explained to Business Standard that airports are more and more becoming destinations with retail, commercial, recreational and leisure activities, so naturally will have a hospitality component. The growth of the economy, air traffic and privatisation of airports have accelerated the growth in airports as sought after destinations, with new airports being established across the country.
