Holiday Inn owner reveals huge European expansion with 280 hotels in the pipeline
Holiday Inn owner IHG passes 1,000 hotels in Europe and reveals plans for more than 280 additional properties across the continent.
The company behind Holiday Inn, InterContinental and Hotel Indigo has announced a major milestone in its European expansion, with more than 1,000 hotels now operating across the continent.
IHG Hotels & Resorts confirmed the achievement on 22 October 2026, revealing that more than 280 additional European properties are in its development pipeline.
The expansion could eventually provide travellers with a wider choice of accommodation across established holiday destinations, major cities and emerging tourism markets.
More than 200 hotels added in three years
IHG has added over 210 hotels to its European portfolio during the past three years, increasing the size of its regional network by more than 25%.
The company's brands cover several accommodation categories, from Holiday Inn Express and Holiday Inn to premium and luxury hotels such as Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo and InterContinental.
Since the beginning of 2024, IHG has also expanded individual brands into new European markets, with recent launches including Iceland, Sweden and Greece.
Its growth includes both newly developed hotels and existing properties joining the company's brand portfolio.
What does this mean for travellers?
A larger network could offer holidaymakers and business travellers more accommodation options, particularly in destinations where international hotel brands previously had a limited presence.
Different brands cater to different budgets and travel preferences, ranging from practical overnight stays to luxury city hotels and more individual boutique-style properties.
The expansion may also appeal to travellers who collect hotel loyalty points, as additional properties can provide more opportunities to use membership benefits across Europe.
However, the 280 hotels in development are not all scheduled to open immediately. Individual projects will have different construction and launch timetables, and some may still be several years away from welcoming guests.
Where will the new hotels open?
IHG has highlighted continued opportunities across Europe, but its latest announcement does not provide a complete opening schedule for every planned property.
Travellers interested in a particular destination should therefore check individual hotel announcements rather than assuming the entire development pipeline is available to book.
The milestone reflects the scale of investment continuing across Europe's hotel industry, with international operators expanding their presence to meet demand from leisure and business travellers.
For IHG, passing 1,000 operating European hotels represents a significant achievement, with hundreds of additional properties potentially joining its network in the coming years.
Images show Holiday Inn, Media city, Manchester, UK
