IHG Hotels & Resorts’ 6^th Consecutive Year at the China International Import Expo

November 7, 2023, Shanghai – The 6^th China International Import Expo (CIIE) is taking place from 5^th to 10^th November at the Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Centre. IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, is solidifying its position as one of the only two international hotel companies to exhibit at the CIIE for six consecutive years. Under the theme "Seizing growth in China," IHG is showcasing its diverse brand portfolio alongside its sustainable development initiatives. The group also underlined its determination to support high-quality development in China’s hospitality industry and the broader economy.

This year is pivotal for China as it continues to promote its high-standard opening up. From gathering the world to benefiting the global community, the sixth CIIE fully demonstrates China’s resolve to share development opportunities with the world. IHG has been part of China's story for 48 years and has been deeply rooted in the mainland market for 39 years, actively contributing to the Chinese economy and the development of the hotel industry. With the improving business environment and increasing opportunities for international cooperation, IHG has grown steadily in Greater China, making it one of the Group's fastest-growing markets worldwide.

“Journey to Tomorrow” highlights corporate social responsibility

As a responsible multinational corporation, IHG actively fulfils its corporate social responsibility. It is showcasing its "Journey to Tomorrow" initiative at the CIIE, emphasizing IHG's commitment to sustainable development and aligning with China's "dual carbon" goals and green development requirements. Sharing IHG’s initiatives that drive change and care for its people, communities, and planet, the “Journey to Tomorrow” exhibition area vividly presents the concept of responsible travel and conveys IHG's commitment to sustainable development.

Upholding its commitment, IHG's approach to the Greater China market in recent years has been characterised by brand innovation, a broad geographic presence spanning first to fourth-tier cities, sustainable corporate strategies, and unique partnership models. It has actively contributed to China's cultural and tourism industry's innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and sharing of high-quality growth. In 2021, IHG introduced Journey to Tomorrow, its 10-year responsible business plan, empowering the industry and related regions for sustainable development through a series of initiatives.

• Care for People: Adhering to its “True Hospitality For Good” philosophy, IHG is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, supporting the larger hospitality talent pool. In the last five years, IHG has doubled the number of women in general managers in Greater China, demonstrating its commitment to driving gender balance across its leadership. Additionally, IHG has joined hands with strategic partners to implement incentive measures for employees with disabilities of working age and elder employees, ensuring equal employment opportunities for vulnerable and underrepresented groups in the workforce.
• Care for Communities: Looking beyond the company's internal operations, IHG also contributes to driving economic and social change through skills training and innovation. IHG Academy, established in 2004, has entered partnerships with over 120 educational institutions in Greater China. This initiative has been inspiring rewarding careers in travel and tourism through training, internships, and employment opportunities. Furthermore, the sixth edition of “Giving For Good month”, held in September this year, saw numerous hotels and support centres within Greater China collaborate with local communities, charities and NGOs to conduct hundreds of activations, collectively working towards making a positive impact on society.
• Care for Planet: IHG stands out as the world's first hotel company to replace bathroom miniatures with full-size amenities across all brands. This pioneering step represents a crucial component of the group's comprehensive sustainability strategy. In 2022, IHG's loyalty program, IHG One Rewards, partnered with Ant Group to promote the “Responsible Travel” project, advocating for consumers to embrace green and low-carbon lifestyles.

Diversified expansion to seize opportunities in the hotel conversion market

Under the “Urban Renewal” plan outlined in the 14^th Five-Year Plan, the trend of renovating and converting hotel assets is gaining momentum. In line with this development, IHG has brought to this year’s CIIE a collection of brands specially tailored for expanding the hotel conversion market.

• IHG's three diverse brand categories –Luxury & Lifestyle, Premium, and Essentials – offer various options that meet owner needs. In 2021, IHG introduced the Luxury & Lifestyle brand Vignette Collection, aiming to fulfil the desires of contemporary consumers seeking unique experiences through renovated or new projects.
• IHG's Premium brand voco hotels has experienced rapid growth with its delightful brand characteristics, flexible collaboration models, and sustainable focus, making it one of the group's fastest-growing brands within just three years of entering the Chinese market.
• The newly-launched Garner Hotels further enriches the group's Essentials portfolio and opens up more possibilities for the hotel conversion market.

Though these three brands have distinct styles, they all share flexible and efficient characteristics, providing IHG with opportunities to explore the hotel conversion market. Leveraging its rich experience in international brand operations and deep insights into the local market, IHG will provide professional and effective solutions, systems, and talent support to investment partners, helping them achieve higher returns on investment and long-term business development.

Premiere Vignette Collection showcase highlights IHG's luxury hotel vision

IHG has created an immersive exploration space for Vignette Collection, marking its CIIE showcase debut. Since its launch in 2021, Vignette Collection has primarily focused on global first-tier cities and tourist destinations, providing guests with uniquely personalised luxury experiences, and becoming a new anchor point for the group's expansion into high-end hotel conversion. Earlier this year, Vignette Collection signed an agreement to open a hotel in Shanghai Yaoxue Snow World, further expanding the group's footprint in the domestic luxury hotel market.

In recent years, with the rise in more sophisticated consumer preferences and the expanding middle-class, the demand for personalised high-quality travel experiences cannot be underestimated. The Chinese luxury hotel market has enormous potential. IHG has keenly observed the changing demands of Chinese consumers and continues to strengthen its presence in the local luxury hotel market, offering more diverse travel experiences to its consumers.

Currently, IHG has six Luxury & Lifestyle hotel brands in its portfolio, all of which have established a presence in Greater China and are continuously expanding their footprint in the country. This year, the group's luxury brand matrix introduced several significant additions: the Regent Hong Kong returns to the coast of Victoria Harbor, and the Regent Shanghai on The Bund is set to stand along the Bund. After establishing a presence in Taipei and Suzhou, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants celebrated its grand opening in September at Qiantan, Shanghai, the brand’s third hotel in Greater China. It will continue to expand to cities such as Nanjing, Sanya, and Shenzhen in the future. The highly anticipated Vignette Collection brand will also be opening soon.

IHG's consistent participation in the CIIE, evolving from a first-time visitor to a regular guest, is a clear reflection of its enduring dedication and unwavering confidence in the Chinese market. The CIIE's substantial spillover effect serves as a robust platform for IHG to gain a deeper insight into the China market, the preferences of its consumers, and active engagement within the Chinese business landscape. IHG will collaborate with diverse partners to explore innovative models within the cultural and tourism industry, foster cooperation, pursue growth opportunities, and collectively strive for a future characterised by high-quality development.