IHG Doubles Down on Osaka Expansion with Ten Hotels and Seven Brands During World Expo

(IN SHORT) To coincide with World Expo Osaka Kansai, IHG Hotels & Resorts has expanded its Osaka portfolio to ten hotels and 3,249 rooms—surpassing its Tokyo presence—and now spans seven brands from luxury (Vignette Collection at the former RIHGA Royal Hotel) to midscale (three Garner Hotels). This growth builds on a presence dating back to 2008 and a surge of openings since 2020. CEO Abhijay Sandilya highlights Osaka’s strategic importance as a cultural, transport, and tourism hub, with further brand launches in Kyoto including Six Senses (2024) and Regent (2028). As a UK Pavilion Supporting Partner, IHG has hosted high-profile guests and strengthened its position as Japan’s second-largest global hotel company, now operating 54 properties with 17 more in development.

(PRESS RELEASE) OSAKA, Japan, 2025-Jun-18 — /Travel PR News/ — As global eyes turn to World Expo Osaka Kansai, IHG Hotels & Resorts is solidifying its status as the leading international hotel operator in the region. Over the past year, the company has grown its Osaka portfolio to ten open properties—totaling 3,249 guest rooms—across seven distinct brands, eclipsing its seven hotels (1,859 rooms) in Tokyo and marking its largest footprint in Japan to date.

Recent additions include the city debut of Luxury & Lifestyle brand Vignette Collection, following the rebranding of the iconic RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka, and the rollout of the midscale Garner brand with three new Garner Hotels in Honmachi. This rapid expansion builds on IHG’s Osaka heritage, which began in 2008 with ANA Crowne Plaza and was followed by Holiday Inn Osaka Namba and InterContinental Osaka. Since 2020, an additional seven IHG hotels have opened in the city, reflecting a deliberate growth strategy in Western Japan’s gateway market.

Abhijay Sandilya, CEO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan and MD of IHG Japan & Micronesia, commented, “Osaka and the broader Kansai region are pivotal to our vision for expansion in Japan. The vibrancy of this market—heightened by the World Expo—and its role as a transportation hub underscore the tremendous opportunity we see here. We’re proud to introduce brands like Holiday Inn Express, voco, Vignette Collection and Garner to such a dynamic city, and to build on our success with Six Senses in Kyoto last year and the forthcoming Regent opening in 2028.”

In recognition of its 60-year history in Japan—and as a Supporting Partner of the UK Pavilion at World Expo—IHG has welcomed a surge of international and domestic travelers, including IHG One Rewards members. The group’s teams have hosted dignitaries such as Her Imperial Highness Princess Akiko of Mikasa and UK Secretary of State Lisa Nandy, for whom InterContinental Osaka’s Head Chef Yoshitaka Shibahara crafted the UK National Day menu.

Today, IHG operates 54 hotels under 10 brands in Japan, with 17 more properties underway, reinforcing its commitment to delivering “True Hospitality for Good” across the country.

SOURCE: InterContinental Hotels Group