IHG Hotels & Resorts reported continued development activity across the Americas during Q1 with 24 hotel openings and the addition of 65 hotels to its regional development pipeline.
In addition, the franchisor said RevPAR increased across every chain scale and brand segment in the Americas during the quarter. Performance in the U.S. led the region, with additional growth reported in Central America, the Caribbean and Canada. The company currently has more than 4,600 hotels open across the Americas with a regional development pipeline of nearly 1,100 properties.
“Our new deal growth reflects the strength across our entire brand portfolio and the confidence owners have in IHG,” Mark Sergot said in a statement. “Pipeline additions were up more than 30 percent year-over-year in the first quarter, driven by continued demand for conversion opportunities and growth across key segments including Suites and the Holiday Inn brand family.”
Within the company’s Essentials & Suites segment, Holiday Inn and related brands accounted for 23 signings during the quarter. Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites and Atwell Suites together represented more than one-third of the Americas pipeline, with 22 combined signings, including the debut of Atwell Suites in Puerto Rico.
Meanwhile, conversion brand Garner recorded 14 signings and eight openings during the quarter, including its first property in Mexico. avid hotels also continued expanding, with a pipeline approaching 120 properties.
In the premium segment, Voco hotels added several openings during the quarter, including voco Times Square – Broadway in New York City and voco Sandpiper in Port St. Lucie, Fla., the brand’s first all-inclusive property. The signing of voco Honolulu marked the brand’s entry into Hawaii. Ruby also entered the U.S. market with a project in Chicago.
The company’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio added four properties during the quarter. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants opened hotels in New York City; Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Pacific Grove, Calif. Hotel Indigo Turks & Caicos Grace Bay marked the first IHG-branded property in Turks and Caicos. The company also announced the signing of Six Senses Camp Korongo, a resort and residential development planned in Utah.