50 & Beyond: IHG Celebrates a Landmark Milestone
Exclusive: Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, IHG Hotels & Resorts South West Asia, on IHG’s 50th Hotel Milestone and the Debut of Crowne Plaza Lucknow.
By Rachna Virdi
IHG Hotels & Resorts has reached a significant milestone in its India journey with the opening of Crowne Plaza Lucknow, its 50th operational property in the country. This achievement reflects IHG’s sustained commitment to India’s dynamic hospitality market, powered by strong domestic demand and a growing appetite for world-class experiences.
Building on this momentum, IHG strengthened its growth strategy last year by signing 18 new hotels across its diverse brand portfolio—nearly 30% of these in the premium and luxury segments. Backed by a robust pipeline of around 70 hotels, the Group is on track to more than double its presence in India over the next five years.
IHG’s portfolio in India spans five distinctive brands: InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Six Senses, Holiday Inn Resort, and Holiday Inn Express. As part of its long-term vision, IHG is accelerating expansion across categories—from mainstream to premium and luxury — with a focus on deepening its presence in high-growth cities and delivering exceptional hospitality for both domestic and international guests.
In an exclusive conversation with SOH, Sudeep Jain, MD, IHG Hotels & Resorts South West Asia, reflects on IHG’s 50th hotel milestone in India. Excerpts.
A symbolic win, a business benchmark
Reaching the 50-hotel milestone in India is both a symbolic and a significant achievement for us. It reflects the strong trust our guests and partners have placed in our brand and underscores the success of our long-term commitment to the Indian market. It also signals the growing maturity and potential of India’s hospitality sector, where we continue to see robust opportunities for expansion across segments and geographies.
Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, IHG Hotels & Resorts South West Asia.
Reaching the 50-hotel milestone in India is both a symbolic and a significant achievement for us.
Sudeep Jain
Managing Director, IHG Hotels & Resorts South West Asia.
Rooted in local relevance
Crowne Plaza Lucknow reflects how IHG’s India portfolio has evolved into a truly local operation backed by global excellence. Our approach today is deeply rooted in local relevance, from General Managers who are from the region or have extensive local market knowledge, to strong on-ground support teams across functions. Over the years we have tailored every aspect, from service design to operations, to meet our guests’ evolving expectations. All of this is backed by the powerful global IHG engine that ensures consistent quality, strong brand standards, and world-class systems.
Aligned with broader expansion
This opening is a strategic step that aligns perfectly with our focus on high-growth markets, including the secondary cities. These markets are seeing increasing demand from both business and leisure travelers, and we are well-positioned to bring our global standards with a localised approach. Lucknow, with its blend of government, education, and cultural significance, is a natural fit for a brand like Crowne Plaza that caters to modern business and social needs.
Appealing proposition for investors
Our growth in India is fuelled by an asset-light, brand-rich strategy, underscoring our commitment to offering diverse and high-quality hospitality experiences. Today, IHG has a presence across all key segments – from luxury brands like Six Senses and InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, to premium offerings like Crowne Plaza, voco and essential brands such as Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express. Most recently, we have expanded into the midscale conversion-friendly space with the signing of Garner. This breadth of portfolio gives owners the flexibility to choose the right brand for their market and investment model. Combined with our strong global systems, powerful loyalty programs, and sharp focus on owner returns, IHG continues to be a trusted and attractive partner. Developers are increasingly seeking brands that can drive sustained occupancy and revenue, and IHG delivers on that promise.
For us, success goes beyond numbers, says Sudeep Jain.
Beyond the 50-hotel mark
For us, success goes beyond numbers. While we will continue to grow our footprint, particularly in underserved markets, our focus is equally on deepening guest loyalty, driving operational excellence, and delivering meaningful experiences across our portfolio. Innovation in digital, sustainability, and food and beverage will continue to shape our journey. Ultimately, we want to be the preferred hospitality partner for guests, owners, and local communities alike.
Our growth strategy is thoughtful, intentional, and grounded in trust and performance. We have a proven history of delivering strong returns for our owners in India – we are a hotel company owners can trust and are as real, local and on-the-ground as it gets.
