Tokyo, Japan – IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a 14-hotel, 1,063-room conversion deal with long-term partner GCP Hospitality in Kyoto, Japan. The portfolio agreement includes 12 Garner hotels, one Holiday Inn Express hotel and one unbranded hotel, with all properties scheduled for conversion through renovations and rebranding over the next 12 months.
The agreement marks one of the largest hotel conversion portfolio deals in Japan in recent years. The hotels will join IHG’s system through phased openings after renovations and rebranding to introduce the hallmarks of the Garner and Holiday Inn Express brands.
The transaction expands IHG’s presence in Kyoto, where the company already operates properties across its Luxury & Lifestyle, Premium and Essentials brands. Its existing Kyoto portfolio includes Six Senses Kyoto, ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto, Holiday Inn Kyoto Gojo and Garner Hotel Kyoto Shijo Karasuma.
With the addition of the 14 properties, IHG said the expansion positions the company as one of the largest international hotel companies in Kyoto. The new portfolio will include a substantial concentration of Garner properties, alongside a Holiday Inn Express hotel and an unbranded property undergoing conversion.
GCP Hospitality, the hospitality arm of Gaw Capital Group, has been appointed to lead the management team across the 14-hotel portfolio. The agreement expands IHG’s long-term partnership with GCP Hospitality and builds on GCP Hospitality’s existing track record in Japan.
Erwann Mahé, CEO of GCP Hospitality, said the company would lead the management team across the portfolio as the hotels are repositioned. He also cited IHG’s global scale, brand strength and distribution capabilities in relation to the portfolio agreement.
For IHG, the signing also expands its mainstream presence in Japan. Abhijay Sandilya, Managing Director, Japan & Micronesia, IHG Hotels & Resorts and CEO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan, described the agreement as a milestone signing for IHG in Japan and its long-term partnership with GCP Hospitality.
Sandilya said the agreement reflects the strength of IHG’s brands and growing confidence from owners in the company’s business and its in-market team. He also highlighted the opportunity for hotel owners to rebrand properties and access IHG’s marketing, technology and distribution platforms, as well as the scale of IHG One Rewards globally.
The portfolio deal is centred on Garner, IHG’s midscale conversion brand. Twelve of the 14 hotels included in the agreement will become Garner hotels, making the brand a major component of the Kyoto expansion.
IHG launched Garner in Japan in 2025 with three hotels in Osaka. The brand was launched globally in August 2023 and has since reached 100 open hotels. IHG describes Garner as its fastest-ever brand to scale globally.
The Kyoto signing follows the brand’s introduction to Japan and expands its presence beyond Osaka. Sandilya said IHG was starting to tap into Garner’s growth potential in Japan, particularly within the country’s business hotel segment.
Japan’s business hotel segment is described by IHG as an established market for efficient and functional properties that maintain consistently high standards. The segment has traditionally been dominated by domestic operators, while international brands have had a smaller presence.
The new portfolio also includes one Holiday Inn Express hotel. The Kyoto property will become IHG’s third Holiday Inn Express in Japan, following Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre - Midosuji and Holiday Inn Express Sapporo Susukino.
The 14 hotels are located across key districts of Kyoto, including areas around Kyoto Station, Shijo and Gojo. IHG said the properties are located close to major transport hubs and some of the city’s most popular cultural and tourism attractions.
Kyoto attracts strong international and domestic demand throughout the year, according to the information provided by IHG. The portfolio’s locations across the city form part of the company’s continued expansion of its hotel presence in the market.
The conversion programme will take place over the next 12 months. Each property will undergo renovations and rebranding before its phased opening under the relevant IHG brand. The portfolio therefore comprises existing hotels moving into IHG’s system through a coordinated conversion programme.
For GCP Hospitality, the agreement continues its work with IHG in Japan. The company will lead the management team across the 14 hotels, while IHG’s brands and distribution capabilities will support the repositioning of the portfolio.
The deal also adds to IHG’s presence across different hotel categories in Kyoto. The company’s existing portfolio includes Luxury & Lifestyle properties such as Six Senses Kyoto, as well as Premium and Essentials properties including ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto and Holiday Inn Kyoto Gojo. Garner Hotel Kyoto Shijo Karasuma is also part of its existing Kyoto portfolio.
The 12 Garner conversions represent the largest component of the new agreement. The remaining properties will comprise one Holiday Inn Express and one unbranded hotel, bringing the total to 14 hotels and 1,063 rooms.
IHG said the agreement demonstrates the growth momentum of Garner in Japan and the interest from owners in rebranding hotels. The company also said it is prepared to work on additional portfolios and introduce Garner to more owners and travellers in the years ahead.
IHG Hotels & Resorts is a global hospitality company with more than 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries and more than 1,900 hotels in its development pipeline. Its portfolio comprises 19 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards.
The Kyoto agreement expands IHG’s hotel system through 14 conversions and extends its partnership with GCP Hospitality. The properties will undergo renovations and rebranding before phased openings over the next 12 months, with 12 hotels adopting the Garner brand and one adopting Holiday Inn Express.
The agreement marks one of the largest hotel conversion portfolio deals in Japan in recent years. The hotels will join IHG’s system through phased openings after renovations and rebranding to introduce the hallmarks of the Garner and Holiday Inn Express brands.
The transaction expands IHG’s presence in Kyoto, where the company already operates properties across its Luxury & Lifestyle, Premium and Essentials brands. Its existing Kyoto portfolio includes Six Senses Kyoto, ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto, Holiday Inn Kyoto Gojo and Garner Hotel Kyoto Shijo Karasuma.
With the addition of the 14 properties, IHG said the expansion positions the company as one of the largest international hotel companies in Kyoto. The new portfolio will include a substantial concentration of Garner properties, alongside a Holiday Inn Express hotel and an unbranded property undergoing conversion.
GCP Hospitality, the hospitality arm of Gaw Capital Group, has been appointed to lead the management team across the 14-hotel portfolio. The agreement expands IHG’s long-term partnership with GCP Hospitality and builds on GCP Hospitality’s existing track record in Japan.
Erwann Mahé, CEO of GCP Hospitality, said the company would lead the management team across the portfolio as the hotels are repositioned. He also cited IHG’s global scale, brand strength and distribution capabilities in relation to the portfolio agreement.
For IHG, the signing also expands its mainstream presence in Japan. Abhijay Sandilya, Managing Director, Japan & Micronesia, IHG Hotels & Resorts and CEO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan, described the agreement as a milestone signing for IHG in Japan and its long-term partnership with GCP Hospitality.
Sandilya said the agreement reflects the strength of IHG’s brands and growing confidence from owners in the company’s business and its in-market team. He also highlighted the opportunity for hotel owners to rebrand properties and access IHG’s marketing, technology and distribution platforms, as well as the scale of IHG One Rewards globally.
The portfolio deal is centred on Garner, IHG’s midscale conversion brand. Twelve of the 14 hotels included in the agreement will become Garner hotels, making the brand a major component of the Kyoto expansion.
IHG launched Garner in Japan in 2025 with three hotels in Osaka. The brand was launched globally in August 2023 and has since reached 100 open hotels. IHG describes Garner as its fastest-ever brand to scale globally.
The Kyoto signing follows the brand’s introduction to Japan and expands its presence beyond Osaka. Sandilya said IHG was starting to tap into Garner’s growth potential in Japan, particularly within the country’s business hotel segment.
Japan’s business hotel segment is described by IHG as an established market for efficient and functional properties that maintain consistently high standards. The segment has traditionally been dominated by domestic operators, while international brands have had a smaller presence.
The new portfolio also includes one Holiday Inn Express hotel. The Kyoto property will become IHG’s third Holiday Inn Express in Japan, following Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre - Midosuji and Holiday Inn Express Sapporo Susukino.
The 14 hotels are located across key districts of Kyoto, including areas around Kyoto Station, Shijo and Gojo. IHG said the properties are located close to major transport hubs and some of the city’s most popular cultural and tourism attractions.
Kyoto attracts strong international and domestic demand throughout the year, according to the information provided by IHG. The portfolio’s locations across the city form part of the company’s continued expansion of its hotel presence in the market.
The conversion programme will take place over the next 12 months. Each property will undergo renovations and rebranding before its phased opening under the relevant IHG brand. The portfolio therefore comprises existing hotels moving into IHG’s system through a coordinated conversion programme.
For GCP Hospitality, the agreement continues its work with IHG in Japan. The company will lead the management team across the 14 hotels, while IHG’s brands and distribution capabilities will support the repositioning of the portfolio.
The deal also adds to IHG’s presence across different hotel categories in Kyoto. The company’s existing portfolio includes Luxury & Lifestyle properties such as Six Senses Kyoto, as well as Premium and Essentials properties including ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto and Holiday Inn Kyoto Gojo. Garner Hotel Kyoto Shijo Karasuma is also part of its existing Kyoto portfolio.
The 12 Garner conversions represent the largest component of the new agreement. The remaining properties will comprise one Holiday Inn Express and one unbranded hotel, bringing the total to 14 hotels and 1,063 rooms.
IHG said the agreement demonstrates the growth momentum of Garner in Japan and the interest from owners in rebranding hotels. The company also said it is prepared to work on additional portfolios and introduce Garner to more owners and travellers in the years ahead.
IHG Hotels & Resorts is a global hospitality company with more than 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries and more than 1,900 hotels in its development pipeline. Its portfolio comprises 19 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards.
The Kyoto agreement expands IHG’s hotel system through 14 conversions and extends its partnership with GCP Hospitality. The properties will undergo renovations and rebranding before phased openings over the next 12 months, with 12 hotels adopting the Garner brand and one adopting Holiday Inn Express.
