IHG Hotels & Resorts is creating a new legacy in luxury. One of the world’s leading hotel companies, IHG’s fast-growing luxury and lifestyle portfolio is now one of the biggest players in the industry and boasts six acclaimed brands that represent almost 20 percent of its global system size and pipeline*.
In recent years, IHG has transformed its luxury & lifestyle portfolio through notable acquisitions of Six Senses, Regent Hotels & Resorts and Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants; the growth of its iconic InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and Hotel Indigo brands; and the launch of Vignette Collection.
In Australasia and Pacific, IHG continues to experience incredible growth in the luxury and lifestyle segment. From the tropical Pacific islands and bustling Parramatta to trendy Teneriffe, culture-loving Melbourne and the city of sails, Auckland, IHG’s portfolio delivers a rich blend of properties, locations and experiences.
Matt Tripolone, Managing Director – Australasia & Pacific, said: “IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio continues to flourish at pace. With over 30% of our hotel pipeline in this segment we’re cementing our presence in this key growth market and experiencing an incredible transformation that will meet guests’ high expectations while driving returns for owners.”
Let’s take a look at what this transformation means for Australasia & Pacific.
Cutting-edge and exceptional
Six Senses joined the IHG family in 2019 and now has 23 hotels open around the world, along with a property pipeline that will nearly triple its current global reach. The brand made its debut in Australasia & Pacific with Six Senses Fiji resort on sublime Malolo Island. And Australia’s first Six Senses property is in the pipeline to open in Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges. Six Senses Burnham Beeches will be a restored three-storey art deco mansion and estate comprising of 43 rustic-luxe guest accommodations and the brands famous spa.
Regent Hotels & Resorts has carved out its own luxury niche by bringing exceptional levels of service, design and innovation to prime global destinations – from the iconic Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel rolling out the red carpet for Hollywood stars in the French Riviera to the Regent Hong Kong providing awe-inspiring stays overlooking Victoria Harbor.
Pioneering spirit
Over six decades after its launch in Australia, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts remains an iconic symbol of sophistication and worldliness with 14 open properties in Australasia & Pacific. In 2023, the brand underwent an evolution to offer new experiences, a fresh brand culture, unique brand differentiators and a game-changing food and beverage and hotel design strategy tailored to both the modern luxury traveller and a wider and younger demographic. One of the first hotels in the world to this showcase this evolution was the fantastic InterContinental Auckland when it opened in January 2024. Opening next is InterContinental Parramatta, the first luxury hotel in Greater Western Sydney.
Fast growing
In May 2024, IHG announced the signing of Kimpton in Brisbane’s Teneriffe, the second property for Kimpton in Australia, joining the stunning Kimpton Margot Sydney which debuted the brand in the region in 2022. Every Kimpton is an individual brand, anchored in its individual design perspective, to ensure the richest and most immersive brand experience. With more than 70 hotels and 85 restaurants, bars and lounges around the world, Kimpton is the fastest growing relaxed luxury brand globally.
Tourism Australia Managing Director Phillipa Harrison said: “At Tourism Australia our marketing is aimed at high yielding travellers who have a high propensity to travel and importantly love what Australia has to offer so it is always encouraging to see new product and premium hotel stock coming online to ensure we continue to appeal to international travellers.”
“Australia has always been considered a premium destination but what sets us apart is we tend to do luxury and premium a little bit differently. What we have to offer really leans into Australia’s unique lifestyle, stunning landscapes, natural environment and of course our exceptional food and wine.”
IHG’s Hotel Indigo brand has been introducing itself to must-visit destinations around the world at a rapid rate, capturing the spirit of local neighbourhoods everywhere. The ‘World’s Neighborhood Hotel’, is seeing rapid global growth with the brand poised to double its reach in the next three to five years. In Australasia & Pacific, Hotel Indigo has continued to bolster its presence and has two exciting openings on the horizon. Opening in late 2024, Hotel Indigo Auckland will be a captivating blend of past and present that captures the spirit of Auckland. In 2025, as part of the Melbourne Walk development set to revitalise Bourke Street Mall, Hotel Indigo Little Collins will open, weaving rich storytelling throughout the hotel’s modern design and restaurant and bars for guests to experience Melbourne’s rich history and culture.
Australia is one of IHG’s destinations of choice to launch new brands, and it was the first market selected to launch Vignette Collection in 2021 with Hotel X Brisbane Fortitude Valley. As a collection brand, Vignette Collection appeals to owners of world-class independent Luxury & Lifestyle hotels seeking to quickly benefit from IHG’s powerful technology and revenue systems, operational expertise and loyalty offer, without the need for high upfront costs or compromise on a property’s unique character, style or name.
Fuelling growth
In addition to transforming its luxury and lifestyle brand portfolio, IHG is supporting its ambition to create a new legacy through a combination of dedicated luxury and lifestyle expertise and significand investments in its wider enterprise platform to fuel brand awareness, consideration and loyalty.
Through its strategic realignment of its Luxury & Lifestyle Australasia & Pacific leadership team, IHG is streamlining key capabilities across operations, brand awareness and commercial. The expert team driving growth, commercial delivery and brand awareness in the region includes Gareth Long, Director of Operations, Luxury & Lifestyle, Lisa Rangitutia, Director of Commercial, Luxury & Lifestyle, Australasia and Dan Cooper, Director, Luxury & Lifestyle Brands, EAPAC.
With a strong focus on future growth, IHG’s high-performing development team drives the execution of IHG’s portfolio growth strategy. The expert team includes Cameron Burke, Director of Development and Anna Church, Senior Development Manager and they’re accelerating growth by focusing on luxury and lifestyle, targeting high-growth markets, extending IHG’s leadership in mainstream and identifying opportunities to launch newer brands like Garner.
This is just the beginning of IHG’s new legacy in luxury and lifestyle – some exciting new signing announcements are just around the corner and set to redefine the luxury landscape in Australia.
* As of 30 June 2024.