IHG Hotels & Resorts has entered a portfolio agreement with GCP Hospitality to acquire and operate 14 hotels in Kyoto, Japan, comprising 1,063 rooms, according to Franchise Tv on August 25, 2026.
Portfolio Composition and Renovation Plans
The portfolio consists of 12 Garner hotels, one Holiday Inn Express property, and one unbranded hotel. All properties will undergo renovations and rebranding with phased openings scheduled over the next 12 months. GCP Hospitality, the hospitality arm of Gaw Capital Group, will manage the entire hotel portfolio under this agreement.
Expansion of IHG’s Presence in Kyoto and Japan
This transaction represents one of the largest hotel conversion deals in Japan in recent years and marks IHG’s
third Holiday Inn Express signing in the country. It strengthens the company’s footprint in Kyoto, where IHG already operates Six Senses Kyoto, ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto, Holiday Inn Kyoto Gojo, and Garner Hotel Kyoto Shijo Karasuma. Kyoto is a key market attracting strong domestic and international tourist demand year-round.
Management and Official Statements
GCP Hospitality will oversee management across the portfolio as part of the partnership. Abhijay Sandilya, Managing Director, Japan & Micronesia, IHG Hotels & Resorts and CEO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan, commented, “This is a true milestone signing for IHG in Japan with one of our long-term partners, GCP Hospitality.
With this agreement, we are expanding our mainstream presence quickly in Japan, reflecting both the strength of our brands and the growing confidence of owners.”
Erwann Mahé, CEO of GCP Hospitality, said, “Building on GCP Hospitality’s successful track record in Japan, we are pleased to expand our partnership with IHG through this historic portfolio agreement. GCP Hospitality has been appointed to lead the management team across the 14-hotel portfolio, supported by IHG’s global scale, brand strength and distribution capabilities as we reposition the portfolio in one of Japan’s most important tourism markets.”
Hotel Locations and Brand Positioning
The hotels are situated in key Kyoto districts
such as Kyoto Station, Shijo, and Gojo, providing connectivity to major transport hubs and tourist sites. Garner, introduced by IHG in Japan in 2025 with three hotels in Osaka, is positioned as a midscale conversion brand targeting business and leisure travelers. Holiday Inn Express, IHG’s fastest growing global brand, offers services including the Express Recharge program and Express Start Breakfast included in rates.
According to Franchise Tv, this agreement reflects rising owner interest in rebranding hotel properties in Japan to leverage IHG’s marketing, technology platforms, distribution capabilities, and its global loyalty program IHG One Rewards, especially in Japan’s underpenetrated international
business hotel segment.
IHG operates 21 hotel brands worldwide, managing more than one million rooms across over 7,000 hotels in more than 100 countries, with a global pipeline of 2,400 properties.
