IHG Hotels & Resorts is celebrating a significant milestone in the ongoing upgrade of two of its most recognisable brands, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express.

Over 90% of the existing European Holiday Inn brand family portfolio have now committed to or already completed the transformation of their hotels as part of IHG’s drive to revitalise their Essentials Collection portfolio.

Holiday Inn is one of the most recognised hotel brands in the world, bringing people together for memorable experiences through warm and welcoming service, contemporary design that blends the familiar with the new, and a sense of comfort unique to the brand. Also part of the Holiday Inn brand family, Holiday Inn Express ensures guests enjoy simple, smart travel essentials a complimentary Express Start® Breakfast, a great night’s sleep, and efficient, seamless experiences for guests with speedy check-in, power showers and complimentary Wi-Fi.

In recent years, the brand family has been undergoing a significant regeneration across the Europe estate, with a reimagining of the hotels’ shared areas, guest rooms and communal spaces, further enhancing each brand’s offering to meet guests’ needs.

The Holiday Inn Open Lobby transforms the traditional hotel lobby format by combining the front desk, restaurant, bar, lounge, and business centre into one open, cohesive space, while refreshing the design to give it a contemporary feel. The design was created by keenly understanding how people use space at home in order to give guests the most flexibility, whether they’re looking to eat, relax, work, or have fun in one space.

As many guests now enjoy a hybrid working model, having the option to work from a space dedicated to functionality, with flexible workstations and inviting social spaces, the Holiday Inn Open Lobby offers a practical alternative to working from a hotel room, an office or at home. The hotel’s food and beverage outlets are located within the Open Lobby, meaning coffee meetings, and working lunches can be arranged with minimal effort, and guests can enjoy a refreshing change of scene in their daily routine.

And guests love this transformation, with customer satisfaction increasing by up to four points at hotels where the new concepts have been implemented in 70% of hotels across Europe. Learn more about the properties showcasing the Open Lobby concept here.

At Holiday Inn Express properties across Europe, the focus has centred upon upgrading guest rooms with a ‘Next Generation’ design implemented at all new hotel openings and rolled-out across two-thirds of the existing estate. Next Generation guest rooms have been developed to balance home comforts with smart design features, such as a flexible workspace, ergonomically designed chairs, ample USB ports and plug sockets, higher quality bedding and a Smart TV that enables guests to stream media from a personal device.

Next Generation hotel room design at Holiday Inn Express hotels 

John Wright, Head of Mainstream Brands, EMEAA, IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented: “In recent years we’ve worked closely with our hotel owners and listened to our guests to roll out these new concepts, ensuring some of our most iconic brands continue to exceed consumer expectations. The way people travel and do business has changed, with flexible working on the rise, and many people have the option to work from anywhere. This milestone for both brands is perfectly timed as business travel continues to return, and people look for alternative spaces to work. Similarly, as the staycation trend remains popular, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express are the perfect base for families, couples and friends seeking to explore Europe’s cities and destinations.”

The Holiday Inn Open Lobby and Holiday Inn Express Next Generation roll out has taken place in partnership with IHG’s many owner and growth partners. Discussing the newly improved design concept, Jenna Dienn, Commercial Director, Castlebridge Group, commented: “We’ve had great feedback from guests on our newly updated designs. From the moment guests arrive, the vibrant, contemporary ambience of the Open Lobby sets the tone for their stay with its warm, welcoming tone. The new interiors are inspired by the modern needs of our guests, who are often seeking a versatile workspace, convenient food and beverage options and high-quality technology facilities.”

Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express account for over 75% of IHG’s total estate in Europe with 566* open hotels, and globally there are over 4,200* open hotels. The ongoing rollout of Open Lobby and Next Generation designs ensures the hotels remain state-of-the-art and can continue to meet a range of guests needs from comfortable, affordable stays to convenient, flexible workspaces.