InterContinental Hotels Group has acquired a 51 percent stake in Regent Hotels and Resorts for $39 million in cash. The agreement gives IHG the option to acquire the remaining 49 percent beginning in 2026.
This acquisition brings Regent into IHG’s luxury portfolio with an ambitious growth plan: expanding the brand from six properties to 40 worldwide. The move is designed to strengthen IHG’s position in the fast-growing luxury hotel segment and accelerate Regent’s global expansion.
“IHG is already one of the world leaders in luxury with our InterContinental Hotels and Resorts brand, but we see significant potential to further develop our global footprint in the fast-growing luxury segment,” said Keith Barr, CEO of IHG. “As one of the pioneers in defining luxury hotels both in Asia and around the world, Regent is an excellent addition to IHG’s portfolio of brands. We see a real opportunity to unlock Regent’s enormous potential and accelerate its growth globally. By creating a dedicated luxury division, we will bring together some of the most experienced and respected professionals in the industry to drive our luxury offering, ensure our existing luxury brands continue to evolve, and welcome new brands such as Regent to enhance our portfolio.”
As part of the deal, IHG announced that InterContinental Hong Kong will undergo extensive refurbishment beginning in early 2020 and will be rebranded as a Regent hotel in 2021. This change is presented as both a strategic expansion and a symbolic return to the brand’s heritage.
“Regent was founded by legendary hotelier Robert H. Burns, who sought to combine Asian hospitality and Western elegance to create a leading luxury hotel brand,” said Steven Pan, executive chairman of Formosa International Hotels Corporation. “The brand has an unrivalled heritage at the very top end of the luxury segment, and the flagship Regent Hong Kong was consistently voted the world’s best hotel in the 1980s and 1990s. Returning the property to its original roots as a Regent hotel is symbolic of our ambition to restore the brand to its former prominence and represents one of the most notable brand comebacks in the industry. IHG shares our vision and has the capability to protect what makes Regent so distinctive while ensuring the brand can grow and thrive globally.”
The acquisition aligns with IHG’s broader strategy to expand its luxury offerings through targeted investments and brand development. By integrating Regent into a dedicated luxury division, IHG aims to leverage operational expertise, global distribution, and marketing resources to scale the brand thoughtfully while preserving its unique identity and heritage.
With an emphasis on high-end hospitality and a clear plan for reopening a landmark property in Hong Kong under the Regent name, IHG’s investment signals confidence in sustained demand for luxury travel and the potential for established boutique luxury brands to grow within a larger global platform.