IHG Expands Into Key Indian Leisure Destinations

Following up on Hilton’s announcement on its plans for 150 Spark brand hotels in India, their APAC chief said they plan to quadruple the number of hotel rooms in its Indian pipeline in the next five years. Hilton currently has 29 hotels in India, behind IHG who has 45, Hyatt with 50, and Marriott with 150. Hilton’s preference had been China as their China-first policy included launching their brands there before bringing them to other Asian countries. Spark will be the first brand launching in India.

IHG Hotels and Resorts announced Holiday Inn Resort Dharamshala will open in the third quarter of 2027. IHG signed a landmark management agreement with Aaraki Hotels & Resorts to introduce the Holiday Inn Resort Dharamshala in the Himalayan foothills, at an altitude of 5,000 feet. The hotel will feature 150 rooms and suites and will mark IHG’s strategic expansion into India’s key leisure destinations. IHG will bring the Holiday Inn brand’s Open Lobby concept, transforming the traditional hotel lobby into a multifunctional space where guests can work, relax, and socialize. There will be three dining outlets, including an all-day restaurant, bar, and lobby lounge. Meeting rooms and a grand ballroom will be available for social gathering and MICE events while a pool, fitness center, resort shops, and a relaxation hub round out the amenities.

IHG also said they signed a management agreement with Adyar Gate Hotels to develop InterContinental Kodaikanal Resort, slated to open in 2028. The new resort adds to IHG’s luxury portfolio in India and marks the debut of the InterContinental brand in Kodaikanal and the sixth open and in the pipeline in the country. Once opened, InterContinental Kodaikanal Resort will feature 100 guestrooms with cottages, and a variety of amenities such as five dining venues, a swimming pool, fitness center, spa, and two meeting spaces.

ONYX Hospitality Group announced a joint venture with Equatorial Group from Malaysia for the EQ Phuket, a new luxury hospitality development in Phuket, Thailand. The landmark project is expected to open in 2028 and represents a milestone in ONYX’s business expansion, complementing its own brands – Amari, OZO, Shama, and Oriental Residence. The new development will be located on Kata Beach and will have a budget of THB 2,500 million. EQ Phuket is slated to offer 180 units, catering to a wide range of regional, long-haul, and short-haul markets. Amenities will include expansive F&B outlets and exclusive facilities located directly on the beach plot.

Cebu’s BE Group of Companies announced their entry into the upscale property market with BE Uptown Park, a premier mixed-use development along Juana Osmeña St. in Cebu City, Philippines. The project will feature a blend of residential, commercial, and hotel components with an estimated project value of ₱4.5 billion. There will be two residential towers, rising 20 and 24 stories high, atop a three-level commercial podium. The towers will offer 400 units, including three sky villas, patio suites, and a selection of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units. Prices will range from ₱8 million to ₱154 million. The hotel component will house AC Hotels by Marriott, the first AC Hotel in the Visayas and Mindanao area. This will also be BE Group’s first partnership with an international hotel chain. BE Uptown Park will start construction in the middle of 2025 with completion expected in the first half of 2030.

Hong Kong-based Plaza Premium Group (PPG), an airport hospitality services provider, is expanding its business in the domestic market in line with recent policies promoting the growth of international aviation hubs and the opportunities presented by the 144-hour visa-free transit policy. The expansion encompasses the establishment of hotels, VIP lounges, and related services in key cities. On October 18, they signed an agreement with Shanghai Airport Group Co. Ltd. to debut an Aerotel hotel in Terminal 2 of Shanghai Pudong International Airport, scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2025. Aerotel Shanghai Pudong Airport Hotel will serve as an integrated hospitality facility. The hotel will have 82 rooms and include flexible hourly booking. Since entering the Chinese mainland market in 2019 with Aerotel at Beijing Daxing International Airport, PPG has expanded to include six Plaza Premium Lounges, two Aerotels, and three Dragon Pass x Plaza Premium Lounge high-speed railway lounges.

Meiji University in Tokyo said they acquired the land and building of Hilltop Hotel adjacent to its main campus with plans to renovate the historic building. The private university is aiming to reopen the hotel, which has been closed since February due to its run-down condition. It is considering using part of the building for student dormitories.

Fiji’s Beachcomber Island Resort is set to undergo a $10 million transformation following the acquisition by Vision Hotels, led by Mark and Brendon Deeley. The two successfully managed two hotel businesses over the past 15 years, including Vanuatu’s Iririki Island Resort and Spa. They are aiming to renovate Beachcomber into a premier destination, renovating it into a 4-star resort while preserving the island’s authentic charm. The Deeleys are planning a full renovation of all existing rooms, upgrading common areas, and constructing 40 new rooms, ultimately expanding the resort's capacity to 90 rooms. The renovation process is already underway with several key upgrades scheduled over the coming years. The final phase of the project will include constructing an additional 40 rooms and will be completed by March 2026. The $10 million investment includes $4 million for initial renovations and $6 million for construction of new bures (luxury huts).

Personnel Move

The Fern Hotels & Resorts announced the appointment of Pratesh Patil as General Manager of Operations for South & East India. He joins Fern Hotels & Resorts with a track record spanning 20 years in the sector, including key leadership positions with Marriott International and Accor Group. His new role will have him overseeing the day-to-day operations and overall management of The Fern Hotels & Resorts’ growing portfolio across the South and East India markets.