IHG Americas RevPAR Climbs 3.6% as Q1 Pipeline Expands

IHG Hotels & Resorts achieved a 3.6% year-over-year Americas RevPAR increase in the first quarter of 2026, breaking three consecutive quarters of regional declines, while global RevPAR grew 4.4% [2]. During the same period, the company opened 24 hotels in the Americas and added 65 properties—totaling nearly 6,000 rooms—to its regional development pipeline [1].

What drove IHG's RevPAR rebound in the first quarter?

IHG's regional RevPAR turnaround stemmed from balanced demand across group meetings, business travel, and leisure stays [[1], [2]]. Hotel Dive reported that Americas RevPAR rose 3.6% year over year following three quarters of decline, supported by a 1.5 percentage point lift in occupancy [2]. Global RevPAR expanded 4.4% over the same timeframe despite conflict in the Middle East [2].

Chief Executive Officer Elie Maalouf pointed to broader macroeconomic drivers in the United States, including high employment levels, real wage growth, wealth creation, and capital allocations into data centers, infrastructure, and artificial intelligence [2]. Strong consumer spending continued to support travel volumes [2]. Furthermore, Chief Financial Officer Michael Glover noted that higher retail fuel prices did not deter drive-to leisure guests, stating that travelers showed no sign of canceling trips over incremental fuel expenses [2]. Outside the U.S., performance was bolstered by growth in Central America, the Caribbean, and Canada [1].

How fast is the Americas pipeline expanding?

Development momentum accelerated with pipeline additions rising more than 30% year over year in the Americas during the first quarter [1]. According to eHotelier, IHG opened 24 regional properties and signed 65 hotels representing nearly 6,000 rooms [1]. Conversions served as a primary engine, accounting for 53% of all global signings in the quarter [2]. Across the Americas, IHG now oversees more than 4,600 operating hotels alongside an active pipeline of nearly 1,100 properties [1].

Which brands led growth across Essentials and Suites?

Midscale and extended-stay tiers accounted for the majority of first-quarter deal volume in the Americas [1]. The Holiday Inn brand family secured 23 new signings [1]. IHG's three dedicated suites brands—Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, and Atwell Suites—generated 22 combined signings and represent over one-third of the total Americas pipeline, with Atwell Suites marking its brand debut in Puerto Rico [1].

Midscale conversion brand Garner signed 14 properties and opened 8 hotels during the quarter, including its first location in Mexico, pushing its global count to nearly 200 open and pipeline sites [1]. In February, IHG also introduced Noted Collection to target conversion opportunities in the upscale to upper-upscale tiers [2]. Meanwhile, avid hotels reached a pipeline of nearly 120 properties, a development pace that will more than double the brand's current footprint [1].

Where did premium and luxury brands expand?

Conversions and footprint extensions drove progress across IHG's premium, luxury, and lifestyle tiers [1]. In the premium segment, voco hotels opened voco Times Square – Broadway in New York and voco Sandpiper in Port St. Lucie, Florida, the brand's first all-inclusive resort [1]. It also signed voco Honolulu for its Hawaii debut [1]. IHG introduced the Ruby brand to the U.S. market with an opening in Chicago [1].

Within luxury and lifestyle, four properties opened across the Americas during the quarter [1]. Kimpton opened Kimpton Era Midtown in New York City, Kimpton Miralina Resort & Villas in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove Monterrey in California [1]. Hotel Indigo Turks & Caicos Grace Bay opened as IHG's initial property on the island, ahead of planned InterContinental and Kimpton locations [1]. Upper luxury brand Six Senses added to its pipeline with the signing of Six Senses Camp Korongo, a resort and residential project in the Utah desert [1].