On August 24, 2026, IHG Hotels & Resorts confirmed an agreement with GCP Hospitality to acquire a 14-hotel portfolio in Kyoto, Japan. The portfolio consists of 12 Garner-branded hotels, one Holiday Inn Express property, and one unbranded hotel, collectively offering 1,063 guest rooms.
GCP Hospitality, the hospitality division of Gaw Capital Group, will manage the entire portfolio. The plan includes phased renovations and rebranding activities to be completed over the next 12 months, marking one of the largest hotel conversion portfolio deals in Japan in recent years.
Abhijay Sandilya, Managing Director for Japan and Micronesia at IHG and CEO of
IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan, stated that the deal significantly advances IHG’s mainstream presence in Japan. He highlighted the Garner brand, launched globally in August 2023, as the fastest growing brand in IHG’s portfolio. Sandilya emphasized that Garner targets the underpenetrated midscale business hotel market in Japan, providing accessible growth opportunities.
Erwann Mahé, CEO of GCP Hospitality, expressed his commitment to managing the portfolio and strengthening the partnership with IHG. His company will lead repositioning efforts, leveraging IHG’s global brand reach and distribution network to capitalize on Kyoto’s important tourism market.
IHG’s existing operations in Kyoto cover multiple segments, including
luxury and lifestyle properties like Six Senses Kyoto, premium brands such as ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto, essentials-level Holiday Inn Kyoto Gojo, and midscale Garner Hotel Kyoto Shijo Karasuma. The new acquisition expands IHG’s footprint significantly in this key Japanese city, which continues to draw strong demand from domestic and international visitors.
The acquired hotels are situated near Kyoto Station and the Shijo and Gojo districts, offering convenient access to major transportation hubs and tourist sites. This geographic spread strengthens IHG’s ability to serve both business and leisure travelers in pivotal locations across Kyoto.
Globally, IHG operates over 7,000 hotels with
more than one million rooms across 2,400 pipeline projects. Its loyalty program, IHG One Rewards, counts over 160 million members. The expansion through the Kyoto portfolio aligns with IHG’s global strategy to grow its hotel portfolio by converting properties to its well-established brands.
