IHG Hotels and Resorts has signed a landmark 14-hotel portfolio deal in Japan with long-term partner GCP Hospitality, part of Gaw Capital Group.
The deal includes 1,063 rooms across 14 hotels in Kyoto: 12 Garner hotels, one Holiday Inn Express, and one unbranded hotel, positioning the group as one of the largest international hotel companies in the city.
All 14 hotels will be converted, with phased openings after renovations and rebranding taking place over the next 12 months, making it one of the largest conversion portfolio deals in Japan in recent years.
IHG’s Garner is a midscale conversion brand within IHG’s portfolio in Japan, debuting the brand to the country in 2025 with the opening of three Garner hotels in Osaka. The latest move makes it the group’s fastest-ever brand to scale globally, with close to 100 open hotels since its global August 2023 launch. The latest signing represents IHG’s third Holiday Inn Express in Japan, following Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre – Midosuji and Holiday Inn Express Sapporo Susukino.
The new hotels will add to IHG’s existing Kyoto portfolio, which includes Six Senses Kyoto, ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto, Holiday Inn Kyoto Gojo and Garner Hotel Kyoto Shijo Karasuma.
IHG will add one Holiday Inn Express in Kyoto under the deal
“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,” said Abhijay Sandilya, Managing Director, Japan & Micronesia, IHG Hotels & Resorts and CEO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan.
“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, added: “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.”
AloJapan.com