IHG Hotels & Resorts is celebrating 50 years since it opened its first hotel in China. As travel rebounds across the country, the hotel group is preparing for another wave of growth in the region.
Tourism in Greater China made a strong comeback in 2024. Both travel spending and the number of travelers surpassed 2019 levels, the last peak before the pandemic. “With the rise in domestic and inbound tourism, we see a bright future in the region,” said Daniel Aylmer, CEO of IHG Greater China. “We’re confident in the opportunities ahead, supported by our wide range of hotel brands.”
Since entering China, IHG has introduced 13 hotel brands to the market, including Hualuxe—a brand created specifically for Chinese guests. The company now operates or has signed deals for more than 1,300 hotels in over 200 cities.
One of IHG’s newest additions to China is its lifestyle brand, Atwell Suites. The brand launched in 2024 and is set to open several locations soon, including Atwell Suites Hangzhou West Lake, Atwell Suites Shenzhen Nanshan, and Atwell Suites Shanghai Wuning.
IHG also plans to open more hotels in popular travel destinations this year. In Hainan, two luxury and lifestyle hotels—Kimpton Aqeos Hainan and Hotel Indigo Hainan Clear Water Bay—are scheduled to launch in 2025. Other major openings include Kimpton Hong Kong TST and Holiday Inn Express Shanghai on The Bund. In Chongqing, a new Hualuxe hotel is planned, and the Even brand will debut in Quanzhou.
For business travelers, IHG is expanding in key economic areas. Upcoming openings include InterContinental Changchun High Tech Zone, Hotel Indigo Chengdu Financial City, and Crowne Plaza Guangzhou Window of Canton.
As IHG celebrates its past, it’s also laying the foundation for long-term growth in China’s fast-recovering travel market.
