IHG has announced a major expansion of its luxury and upscale portfolio across the United Kingdom. The company has signed an agreement to rebrand and operate 12 existing hotels and to bring one additional property into its pipeline, creating a combined portfolio of more than 2,000 guestrooms. This move reinforces IHG’s position as a leading operator of luxury hotels in the UK, with plans focusing on prime city-center locations such as London, Manchester and Edinburgh under the InterContinental and Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants brands.
Keith Barr, CEO of IHG, highlighted the strategic importance of the agreement: “We are focused on continuing to expand our leadership in luxury and upscale, which are both high-value segments with significant growth potential. Bringing Kimpton to such an important market as the United Kingdom is a key part of our plans, as is the introduction of our new upscale brand, which will provide an exciting, differentiated offering to both guests and owners. Together with the recent addition of Regent Hotels & Resorts to our portfolio, we are building real momentum behind our plans to deliver industry-leading net rooms growth.”
The portfolio of properties set to transition to IHG includes a mix of historic and landmark hotels across major UK cities. Listed properties are: The Principal London; The Principal Edinburgh Charlotte Square; The Principal Edinburgh George Street; The Principal Met Hotel (Leeds); The Principal York; De Vere Oxford Thames; The Principal Manchester; The Principal Blythswood Square (Glasgow); The Principal Grand Central (Glasgow); The Principal St. David’s (Cardiff); The Principal Oxford Spires; and De Vere Wotton House. These hotels bring a variety of architectures, locations and guest experiences that align with IHG’s luxury and upscale positioning.
By integrating these properties into its InterContinental and Kimpton portfolios, IHG aims to enhance its presence in key urban centers, offering travelers access to premium accommodations, elevated amenities and distinctive service. The inclusion of Kimpton—known for its boutique, design-led hotels—signals IHG’s intent to broaden its appeal to guests seeking personalized, lifestyle-focused stays, while InterContinental brings global luxury stature and legacy to landmark locations.
The rebranding initiative also presents opportunities for owners to capitalize on IHG’s global distribution, loyalty program and operational expertise. For guests, the transition is expected to maintain each hotel’s individual character while introducing consistent quality standards, expanded reservation channels and membership benefits available through IHG’s platform.
Overall, this agreement represents a significant step in IHG’s UK strategy, combining growth in room count with a reinforced footprint in top-tier urban markets. With more than 2,000 guestrooms added through these conversions and the pipeline property, IHG strengthens its competitive position and demonstrates continued investment in the high-value luxury and upscale segments across the United Kingdom.