IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed Holiday Inn Express Sapporo Susukino in Japan, expanding its presence in one of the country’s busiest tourism markets.
The 223-room hotel is scheduled to open in July 2026 after an extensive renovation.
The property will mark the second Holiday Inn Express hotel in Japan and is being developed with Mitsubishi Corporation Urban Development Co., Ltd., Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd. and The Sankei Building Co., Ltd. It will be located in Susukino, Sapporo’s main entertainment and dining district.
The hotel will become the first Holiday Inn Express property in Japan to feature the brand’s Generation 5 design concept. Planned facilities include an Express Café, fitness centre and guest laundry, aimed at travellers seeking a practical and efficient stay.
Susukino is one of Sapporo’s best-known visitor areas, close to attractions such as Susukino Intersection and Ramen Alley. The hotel will sit a five-minute walk from Susukino Subway Station and three minutes from Shiseikan Shogakkō-mae Streetcar Station, offering links across the city.
Abhijay Sandilya, Managing Director, Japan & Micronesia, IHG Hotels & Resorts and CEO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan, said: “We’re delighted to partner with Mitsubishi Corporation Urban Development, Tokyo Tatemono and The Sankei Building, to bring our second Holiday Inn Express hotel to Japan, which will join our seven existing properties in Hokkaido.”
He added: “This signing also reflects the continued momentum of conversions, both globally and in Japan. In 2026, all our hotel openings across the country are conversions, demonstrating strong interest from owners seeking fast access to IHG’s leading enterprise.”
The consortium of owners said: “We are pleased to partner with IHG to open the first Holiday Inn Express hotel in Hokkaido. As a globally recognised company, with a clear value proposition, IHG’s proven conversion expertise and strong in-market knowledge gives us great confidence in this project as we build a successful partnership together.”
Holiday Inn Express is IHG’s fastest-growing Essentials brand, with 3,292 hotels open worldwide and 655 in the pipeline. The brand includes complimentary hot breakfast and targets both leisure and business travellers.
IHG currently operates 59 hotels across 10 brands in Japan, with 24 more properties in the pipeline, underlining its continued expansion in the market.
AloJapan.com