InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), which currently runs 50 hotels in India, is planning a major expansion in the country. The global hospitality major has outlined a medium-term goal of having 400 hotels either operational or under development within the next five years, while its long-term vision is to scale up to 1,000 properties nationwide.
Speaking to CNBC-TV18, IHG CEO Elie Maalouf emphasised the vast untapped potential of India’s hotel market, noting that the country currently has fewer internationally branded hotel rooms than Manhattan alone. He said that although IHG has been present in India for five decades, the last ten years have transformed the market. Investments in roads, railways and airports have boosted travel, GDP growth has strengthened to 6–8%, deregulation has eased business conditions, and air travel is growing at the fastest pace globally. Despite rising demand, the supply of quality hotels remains insufficient.
Maalouf said India could eventually emerge as one of IHG’s top three global markets, driven by its 1.5 billion population and a rapidly expanding middle class. Drawing comparisons with China, where IHG is nearing 1,000 hotels, he said India’s demographics and infrastructure make similar growth achievable. With record hotel signings in recent years, IHG sees India as a critical, long-term growth engine alongside mature global markets.
