Estate to double in three to five years by bringing the
“right brands to the right locations with the right owners” 

IHG Hotels & Resorts will double its Vietnam estate in the next three to five years and focus on growing sustainably to satisfy the rapidly increasing demand for travel. 

IHG, one of the world’s leading hospitality companies, has 15 hotels in the country, and a pipeline of 18 eye-catching new properties which will see it open more than 6,000 additional rooms by 2027. 

It continues its impressive growth in Vietnam by building on its strong reputation and award-winning Luxury & Lifestyle brands and strengthening its relationships with partners who share its focus on sustainable development. 

Rajit Sukumaran, IHG’s Managing Director, South East Asia and Korea, explained: “It’s a very exciting time for IHG in Vietnam, where we’re targeting growth in a substantial – and sustainable – way as demand for hotel stays continues to rapidly return across the country. 

“We’re going to double our estate in Vietnam in the next three to five years as we show our commitment to the increasing number of guests who want to stay with us, and the owners who want to partner with us. 

“It’s important that we achieve this by growing sustainably, so we’re going to focus on bringing the right brands to the right locations with the right owners and creating wonderful hotels and resorts that are sought after by travellers and bring economic growth to cities, regions and communities. 

Sukumaran added that, although the recovery from the pandemic is still ongoing and varies between markets, he’s seeing much reason for optimism as business continues to bounce back for IHG, both in Vietnam and around the world. 

“We’re confident that Vietnam’s tourism industry will return, and return strongly,” he said. “According to STR, occupancy in the country for the month of February increased by 47% from the year before, which is a very sizeable turnaround. 

“We’ve seen international business travel come back strongly in locations including Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, led by the pent up need to travel. Our guests are also booking longer stays than before the pandemic, and also bigger rooms – such as suites and residences – as they seek to make the most of their stays. And we’ve also seen the early signs of mid-to-long haul travel coming back with key source markets including Korea, Singapore, Japan, US and Australia, while domestic business continues to be strong as families seek to spend time with loved ones. 

“On top of this, we know that Saigon and Danang have consistently remained popular with international travellers across the region, with both cities ranked in the top 10 list of most searched destinations. 

“Overall, it’s been great to see this upturn, and it supports the confidence we’ve gained from having seen demand return to 2019 levels in many of our markets around the world.” 

 The good news for the increasing number of people looking to stay at an IHG hotel in Vietnam is that the company will soon be expanding its brand portfolio in the country. 

 First on a long list of scheduled openings is a landmark moment: the first new-build Regent hotel since IHG acquired the brand in 2018 – Regent Phu Quoc. Located off the southwest coast of Vietnam alongside a UNESCO-designated World Biosphere Reserve, the all-suite-and-villa resort will set a new benchmark for resort luxury in Vietnam. 

 The company’s other plans are spread across its brand portfolio and include growing both Crowne Plaza – Crowne Plaza Vinh Yen City Centre will open later this year – and InterContinental, as it builds on the success of last year’s opening in Ho Tram. It will also bring its newest premium brand, voco, to Danang next year as its rapid growth continues with more than 60 hotels having opened since its 2018 launch, while Vignette Collection, IHG’s newest brand, is attracting interest following its global launch last year. 

World-renowned and much-loved Holiday Inn portfolio will also be strengthened with the recent opening of Holiday Inn Resort Ho Tram earlier this year and the upcoming Holiday Inn Resort Ha Long Bay in 2023, as part of IHG’s ongoing commitment to open up fantastic new destinations for travellers to enjoy. 

Sukumaran explained: “In the past two years people have taken the chance to explore their own country, leading many of our owners to identify new opportunities across Vietnam. We have signed agreements in new locations including Ha Long Bay, Sapa, Ba Na Hills, the first onsen resort in Quang Hanh Yoko Park, Phu Quoc, Vinh Yen and more. 

“One of the key elements driving our ability to expand into these wonderful new locations is our local market knowledge. We’re taking a local-global approach in Vietnam, with our team based locally to support hotels and owners, while leveraging the power of IHG’s global systems, enterprise and programmes including our recently reimagined IHG One Rewards programme. 

“Our websites and communications will be in Vietnamese, making it easier for domestic travellers to book a stay in an IHG hotel, while the major investment we have made in our loyalty programme will provide more rewarding, richer benefits for our guests, while attracting the next generation of travellers.”