The new model, called Franchise Plus, has been specifically tailored for the Chinese market and provides owners with all of the benefits of operating a franchise model, but with additional benefits and features from IHG’s managed model.

This announcement comes as IHG signs its first Franchise Plus agreement with Shanghai Yaqi Business Hotel Co., Ltd., for a 260-room Holiday Inn Express hotel in the Hongqiao area of Shanghai. It also reflects the local dynamics of the China market, which has seen a rapid rise of the middle class in recent years, leading to significant demand for mid-scale hotels in Tier 1, 2, 3 and 4 cities.

Holiday Inn Express is one of the fastest growing mid-scale brands, which is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary year. There are over 2,400 Holiday Inn Express hotels globally and over 620 in the pipeline. 

As the first international hotel company to enter China in 1984, IHG continues to be a market leader in the region, operating 268 hotels across 100 cities, with another 212 in the pipeline.