IHG is accelerating growth across Asia with a focus on conversion-friendly and luxury and lifestyle-driven brands. Rajit Sukumaran, SVP and managing director for IHG Hotels & Resorts East Asia and APAC, highlighted the brand-new Garner openings in Pattaya, Osaka, and Kyoto, emphasizing its flexible standards and mainstream appeal.
Complementing Holiday Inn Express, Garner targets the growing convergence market, where adaptive reuse and space efficiency are key. Sukumaran also discussed IHG’s acquisition of the Ruby brand, designed for premium urban lifestyle travelers and optimized for adaptive reuse projects. Luxury remains central to IHG’s strategy, with InterContinental, Regent, and Six Senses expanding across iconic locations such as Phu Quoc, Shanghai, Bali, and Kyoto. Sukumaran stressed that modern luxury, heritage preservation, and evolving traveler expectations are driving development opportunities.
With Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Australia showing rapid growth potential, IHG is poised to expand its footprint while meeting demand for stylish, flexible, and iconic hospitality experiences across the Asia-Pacific region.