IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a landmark portfolio deal with long-term partner GCP Hospitality, the hospitality arm of Gaw Capital Group, adding 14 hotels and 1,063 rooms in Kyoto, Japan.
The portfolio includes 12 Garner hotels, one Holiday Inn
Express and one unbranded property.
All 14 hotels will undergo renovations and rebranding, with
phased openings planned over the next 12 months.
The agreement represents one of the largest hotel conversion
portfolio deals in Japan in recent years and strengthens IHG’s expansion of its
Garner midscale brand.
Garner, launched in August 2023, has become IHG’s
fastest-growing brand globally, recently surpassing 100 open hotels.
The deal also marks IHG’s third Holiday Inn Express signing
in Japan, following properties in Osaka and Sapporo.
The Kyoto expansion will add to IHG’s existing presence in
the city, which includes Six Senses, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Garner,
reinforcing its position among Kyoto’s leading international hotel operators.
Abhijay Sandilya, Managing Director, Japan & Micronesia,
IHG Hotels & Resorts and CEO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan, said: “This
is a true milestone signing for IHG in Japan with one of our long-term
partners, GCP Hospitality. With this agreement, we are expanding our mainstream
presence quickly in Japan, reflecting both the strength of our brands and the
growing confidence of owners in our business and our strong in-market team.
Following the successful Garner brand launch in Japan around 18 months ago in
Osaka, this deal demonstrates the growing interest from owners to rebrand
hotels and benefit from quick access to IHG’s leading enterprise, including our
marketing, technology and distribution platforms, and the scale of IHG One
Rewards globally.
We are just starting to tap into Garner’s full growth potential in Japan as the
business hotel segment is underpenetrated by international brands. There is an
opportunity to grow across the country in this space, and we are ready to work
on more portfolios. We look forward to introducing the brand’s offering to more
owners and travellers in the years ahead.”
Erwann Mahé, CEO of GCP Hospitality, commented: “Building on GCP Hospitality’s successful track record in Japan, we are pleased to expand our partnership with IHG through this historic portfolio agreement. GCP Hospitality has been appointed to lead the management team across the 14-hotel portfolio, supported by IHG’s global scale, brand strength and distribution capabilities as we reposition the portfolio in one of Japan’s most important tourism markets.” -TTN