IHG Expands Presence in Spiritual Tourism Hub with New Holiday Inn Express in Ayodhya
The 125-key hotel will be a standout addition to IHG’s portfolio and strengthen presence in key spiritual destinations in India.
(IN SHORT) IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement to open a Holiday Inn Express hotel in Ayodhya, India, scheduled for mid-2028. The new 125-room hotel will cater to the growing influx of spiritual, leisure, and MICE travelers, offering easy access to major attractions, including the main temple complex. The signing reflects IHG’s strategic focus on expanding in high-demand, culturally rich destinations. IHG currently operates 46 hotels in India and has a pipeline of 58 upcoming properties.
(PRESS RELEASE) Ayodhya, India, 2024-Dec-13 — /Travel PR News/ — IHG® Hotels & Resorts, a global leader in hospitality, has announced a management agreement to develop a new Holiday Inn Express hotel in Ayodhya, set to open by mid-2028. This new addition will bolster IHG’s footprint in high-growth markets across India, particularly in spiritual destinations that continue to draw significant numbers of travelers.
The 125-room Holiday Inn Express Ayodhya will bring IHG’s renowned service to this rapidly growing city, which attracted over 110 million visitors in the first half of 2024. As the largest and fastest-growing brand within IHG, Holiday Inn Express is celebrated for offering accessible and comfortable accommodations designed for travelers seeking relaxation, productivity, and convenience. The new hotel in Ayodhya will provide a mix of offerings suitable for spiritual, leisure, and MICE travelers, featuring an all-day dining restaurant, a fitness center, business facilities, parking, laundry, and a spacious meeting room.
Sudeep Jain, Managing Director of South West Asia at IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented, “We’re excited to expand Holiday Inn Express to Ayodhya, one of India’s most visited destinations in 2024. Its strategic location will serve the city’s spiritual tourism sector year-round, offering both comfort and convenience while being just minutes from the main temple complex and the Railway Station. This signing underscores our commitment to expanding in secondary markets with significant cultural and religious appeal.”
Abhishek Jain, the hotel’s owner, shared his enthusiasm about the project: “Partnering with IHG to introduce Holiday Inn Express to Ayodhya is an exciting opportunity. With IHG’s global standards and our local expertise, we aim to offer a distinguished destination that sets new hospitality standards in Ayodhya, becoming a preferred choice for both domestic and international travelers.”
Currently, IHG operates 46 hotels across India, including well-known brands such as Six Senses, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, voco, Holiday Inn Resort, and Holiday Inn Express. The company also has a robust pipeline of 58 hotels set to open in the next 3-5 years.
About IHG
IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.
With a family of 19 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,500 open hotels in over 100 countries, and more than 2,200 in the development pipeline.
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Media Contacts:
Ankita Chopra
Senior Manager, Corporate Affairs, IMEA
IHG Hotels & Resorts
ankita.chopra@ihg.com
+971 4 213 6502
Reem Youssef
Executive, Corporate Affairs, IMEA
IHG Hotels & Resorts
reem.youssef2@ihg.com
+971 4 213 6079
Source: IHG
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