IHG Hotels & Resorts Celebrates 50 Open Properties in Japan
The hotel management company continues its expansion in the Japanese market, aiming to double its hotel portfolio.
IHG Hotels & Resorts Celebrates 50 Open Properties in Japan
Global hotel management firm IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) recently passed a new milestone: 50 open properties in Japan.
The company is also on track to double its estate in the country, launching three new brands in the market.
This major growth milestone was celebrated during IHG CEO Elie Maalouf’s recent visit to Tokyo. He joined owners, partners, and colleagues to mark a successful year for IHG in Japan, where the business introduced the Six Senses, Vignette Collection, and Garner brands, contributing to Japan’s record of attracting over 36 million international arrivals.
Significant Highlights from 2024
- The opening of Six Senses Kyoto marked the luxury brand’s market debut, enhancing its urban offerings.
- IHG’s first collection brand, Vignette Collection, welcomed iconic hotels such as RIGHA Royal Hotel Osaka and The Windsor Hotel TOYA Resort & Spa.
- The newly launched midscale brand, Garner, recently opened three hotels in Osaka.
A Milestone Worth Celebrating
Abhijay Sandilya, CEO for IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan, expressed that reaching 50 open hotels is a significant achievement. He remarked:
“Debuting three new brands in this vibrant market last year demonstrates the great growth momentum we’re building here, and we remain on track to double our estate in the country in the next few years.”
He further noted the importance of both new builds and converting existing hotels to international standards in Japan, which currently only hosts 5% of international brand hotels compared to the global average of 20-25%.
In Place for a Stellar Year
Forecasts from the Japan Tourism Bureau (JTB) indicate further increases in international arrivals, projecting 40.2 million for 2025, along with a 2.7% growth in domestic travel, which is expected to reach 305 million travelers.
Sandilya commented on the rising demand from travelers:
“The rises in demand by international and domestic travelers are directly supporting our growth ambition in Japan.”
In 2025, IHG is set to celebrate additional milestones, including the return of its Holiday Inn brand to Tokyo and Kyoto, marking the city as the first destination outside of the Americas when the hotel opened in the 1970s. The ANA Crowne Plaza hotels will expand to new regions including Okinawa, and for the first time, InterContinental, the world’s first and largest international luxury brand, will open in Sapporo.
