InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) Hotels & Resorts announced on 26 August 2026 a deal to convert 14 hotels in Kyoto, Japan, adding 1,063 rooms across the portfolio. The acquisition includes 12 Garner-brand hotels, one Holiday Inn Express, and one unbranded hotel. All properties are situated in key districts close to major transport hubs and popular cultural and tourism sites in Kyoto.
IHG’s Garner brand, launched three years ago, is a midscale concept that recently surpassed 100 hotels globally. The company’s existing portfolio in Kyoto spans various market segments, from the budget Holiday Inn Kyoto Gojo and midscale Garner Hotel Kyoto
Shijo Karasuma to the premium ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto and ultra-luxury Six Senses Kyoto. GCP Hospitality, part of Gaw Capital Group, will manage the 14 acquired hotels.
Abhijay Sandilya, Managing Director for Japan & Micronesia at IHG Hotels & Resorts and CEO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan, said the deal reflects a growing trend among owners to rebrand properties to leverage IHG’s marketing, technology, and distribution platforms, as well as the global reach of the IHG One Rewards program.
Following renovation and rebranding, the 14 hotels will reopen in phases over the next 12 months. Guests will benefit from
locations near important transport nodes and major tourist attractions. The hotels will soon become bookable through IHG One Rewards, expanding options for members across Japan.
This transaction is one of the largest hotel deals in Japan in recent years and strengthens IHG’s position as a major international operator in Kyoto’s traditionally domestic-dominated hotel market. The rapid growth of the Garner brand supports IHG’s expanding footprint within Japan’s hospitality sector.
