InterContinental Celebrates Canadian Milestone
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has crossed the milestone of 100 open Holiday Inn Express hotels in Canada, with the recent opening of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Trois-Rivières in Quebec.
Located at 2000 rue des Grands-Marchés in Trois-Rivières, the 111-room hotel is owned by Groupe Robin.
On the heels of this 100th hotel milestone are three additional openings for the brand in Canada – Holiday Inn Express & Suites Brantford, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Kelowna – East, and Holiday Inn Express & Suites Moncton. These openings further demonstrate the brand’s rapid growth throughout IHG’s 56-year history in Canada.
Compared to the industry average, the Holiday Inn Express brand has led the way in terms of its growth rate and footprint in Canada. With 103 open hotels and 24 additional hotels in the development pipeline, Holiday Inn Express properties account for more than 56% of IHG’s Canadian portfolio – which is more than double the number of open hotels than the next leading brand in the segment.
Jonathan Lund, regional vice-president, Canada, IHG, commented, “There is a market need for upper-midscale hotels. In 2017 alone, IHG Canada experienced unprecedented growth with 24 new hotels signings – the most we’ve seen in 10 years. I have no doubt that IHG will continue to extend its leadership position in the midscale segment, offering significant opportunities to Canadian owners.”
Holiday Inn Express hotels cater to the rise in value-oriented travellers. In Canada, there are significantly more secondary and tertiary markets (i.e. with a population of less than 100K) than there are metropolitan markets (i.e. with a population of more than 100K). With 75% of Canada’s hotels included in the economy, mid-market, upper-mid-market segments, it explains why hotels like Holiday Inn Express are so relevant and in demand.
From a business perspective, the Holiday Inn Express brand appeals to developers and franchisees because of its smaller-than-average square footage requirement, strong return on investment, scalability and flexible financing. For leisure and business travellers, the brand offers competitive rates, modern facilities, and dependable services – a hotel that will help them rest and go while staying productive.
Pictured, Kristopher Wekarchuk, director of Holiday Inn Express & Suites Hotel Operations, with Gaétan Laplante, construction foreman, Robert Robin, chairman of the board of Groupe Robin, Yves Lévesque, mayor, Trois-Rivières, Nellie Robin, president of Groupe Robin, Stuart Laurie, director, franchise sale and development for IHG banner and Frédéric Bilodeau, general manager of Holiday Inn Express & Suites Trois-Rivières.
