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IHG HOTELS & RESORTS recently launched "IHG LIFT," an owner growth program aimed at providing hotel development support for historically underrepresented groups in the hospitality industry and promoting diversity within IHG's hotel owner community, the company said. The new program seeks to remove shared barriers to hotel ownership within these groups, promoting diverse owner-entrepreneurs for success. IHG will invest more than $30 million over the next five years to aid the program, offering support, capital access, and guidance throughout the hotel lifecycle for eligible owners in the U.S. and Canada. The IHG LIFT program name stands for leadership, inclusivity, facilitation and transformation, reflecting the necessary change and ongoing evolution within the industry, a company statement said.

A GROUP OF InterContinental Hotels Group franchisees have filed a lawsuit against the company in connection with a cyber-attack that "significantly disrupted" its booking channels and other applications in mid-September. The lawsuit claims that IHG should have taken more steps to prevent the breach in light of warnings it received after a previous breach. IHG implemented a response plan, including notifying the relevant regulatory authorities, working with its technology suppliers and engaging external specialists to investigate the incident, according to the company. The breach affected IHG's reservations and customer care call centers, as well as internal systems, such as Merlin and the IHG Help Desk, according to a statement from AAHOA on the breach. The association said franchisees, including some of its members, saw a complete shutdown in guestroom bookings during this outage. On Sept. 15, several IHG franchisees filed a lawsuit against IHG in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division alleging the company should have done more to prevent the breach. The lawsuit references a similar breach the company experienced in 2017 as an example that IHG should have taken further steps to secure its system.

IHG HOTELS & RESORTS reported a 23 percent increase in profit from reportable segments in 2023, surpassing the $1 billion milestone for the first time. The company also noted a 16.1 percent rise in RevPAR, a 5.1 percent increase in ADR, and a 6.4 percentage point uptick in occupancy during the previous year. It anticipates returning more than $1 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks this year, IHG said in a statement. "Travel demand was strong across all markets, with RevPAR up 16 percent from last year and 11 percent ahead of the 2019 pre-pandemic peak," said Elie Maalouf, IHG Hotels & Resorts' chief executive officer. "Combined with the power of our enterprise and efficient operating model, profit from reportable segments grew by 23 percent, exceeding one billion dollars for the first time, and adjusted EPS grew by 33 percent." This marks one of the company's most significant quarters for development activity, IHG said. The company reported full-year revenue of $4.62 billion, marking a nearly 19 percent increase from $3.89 billion in 2022.

IHG HOTELS & RESORTS hopes to draw more young college graduates to the hospitality field, particularly among historically underrepresented groups, through a new partnership with Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College in Atlanta. As part of the tie-up, IHG will provide resources to support students' professional development in the hospitality sector and create employment opportunities. The initiative is part of IHG's early-career recruitment program, according to IHG, which also is based in Atlanta. "Our partnerships with Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College underscore IHG's commitment to supporting the success of future leaders and increasing ethnically and racially diverse talent within our company," said Elie Maalouf, CEO of IHG Americas. "Our goal is to create meaningful engagements that open more doors of opportunity for underrepresented groups. I recently had the pleasure of meeting a few of our summer interns from both schools and it was inspiring to be among a new generation of up-and-coming talent that we hope will soon come back to IHG."

IHG HOTELS & Resorts hotel Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia in Atlanta partnered with food waste management firm Goodr to rescue its surplus food, according to IHG. It will be the first IHG property to use the service. As part of the partnership, edible, unsold food from the location's restaurants and corporate dining events will now be donated to Goodr's local non-profit partners, according to IHG. It also supports IHG's Journey to Tomorrow, a 10-year responsible business plan, which includes combating food insecurity in communities around the world and minimizing food waste. "We're excited about our new partnership with Goodr to help do our part to combat the issue of food insecurity in the local Atlanta area," said Sharon Kilmartin, the Crowne Plaza's area general manager. "Together, we can help make a difference in the lives of many people in our community and we urge other hotels to do the same."

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING points are becoming a standard amenity at hotels, akin to the rise of Wi-Fi in the early 2000s. Benefits for the hotel owners and franchisers can include additional revenue, carbon credits as well as attracting guests from the growing number of electric vehicle drivers. A 2022 Green Lodging survey by the American Hotel and Lodging Association revealed a surge in the deployment of EV chargers within the hospitality sector, with 26.6 percent of all U.S. hotels equipped with charging stations. The EV charging facilities are more commonly found at luxury hotels (nearly 90 percent offer them), while only about one in five limited-service hotels provides charging, representing significant growth opportunities. Hotel brands such as Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, BWH Hotel Group, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Choice Hotels International, Hyatt Hotel Corp. and G6 Hospitality have prioritized deploying EV charging based on customer preferences. Their franchisees have begun incorporating EV charging infrastructures into their properties. "We've heard from our owners that offering EV charging solutions is increasingly influential for guests when choosing hotels," said Brian McGuiness, IHG's senior vice president of global guest experience. "This is backed by our observation of guests using EVC filters on the IHG One Rewards mobile app and website. Our integrated EV-charger search filter within the IHG One Rewards mobile app allows travelers to easily find properties with EV charging capabilities, empowering them to plan their journeys conveniently and confidently."

IHG HOTELS & RESORTS has selected California-based Canary Technologies as the global digital tipping solution vendor, enabling guests to tip hotel staff. Founded by Harman Narula and SJ Sawhney in 2017, the company offers digital tipping solutions and an end-to-end guest management system, including mobile check-in and checkout, dynamic upsells, and guest messaging, Canary said in a statement. "Hotel staff members are the backbone of the hospitality industry and guests want to tip staff for great service," said Dhiraj "DJ" Singh, Canary's vice president of sales. "With the declining use of cash worldwide, staff tips have taken a hit over the years. We are thrilled to help IHG hoteliers boost guest satisfaction and reward hard-working team members." IHG Hotels & Resorts, featuring 19 brands, more than 6,000 hotels, and nearly 1 million rooms worldwide, will implement Canary's digital tipping solution to improve the guest experience and acknowledge employees efficiently, the statement added.

U.S. HOTEL DEVELOPERS have a new choice of brands now. InterContinental Hotels Group is now signing franchise agreements stateside for its Vignette Collection, previously focused on development in Asia with its first properties in Australia and Thailand. The Vignette Collection is part of IHG's luxury and lifestyle portfolio that includes more than 400 hotels and 100,000 rooms. Hotel owners and operators in the U.S. are invited to attend an online symposium on franchising with the brand on Dec. 7. "Vignette Collection gives owners and guests an inspiring new choice and, while each hotel in the collection will maintain its unique story and guest experience, guests will also enjoy the assurance of a consistent and high-quality experience backed by IHG," said Julienne Smith, IHG's senior vice president of development for the Americas. "There is outstanding potential in the Americas region for this brand, specifically in urban and resort locations, with Vignette Collection offering high value and flexibility for hotel owners."

IHG HOTELS & RESORTS recently introduced new prototype options for its three suites brands - Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, and Atwell Suites - focusing on space and efficiency while maintaining key features from current designs. These prototypes are scheduled to be available by the second quarter of 2024, with the first properties featuring them expected to open as early as 2025, IHG said in a statement. Initially, the prototype designs will only be accessible to U.S. properties, with the possibility of future adoption in Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. "IHG continues to build on our nearly three decades of leadership in the extended-stay and suites space by evolving our prototype designs to increase owner value while offering the spaces and amenities short- and long-term travelers value most," said Kevin Schramm, IHG's senior vice president for development, mainstream brands, U.S. and Canada. "Our new concepts reflect guest and owner feedback, and enable new and existing owners to deliver our modern suite experiences-in various forms-to more markets without compromising consistency or quality."

IHG HOTELS & RESORTS donated $500,000 to the American Hotel & Lodging Association Foundation's No Room for Trafficking Survivor Fund to combat human trafficking. It is the most recent donation by a large hotel company to the fund. The Survivor Fund works to end human trafficking and support the economic stability of human trafficking survivors with the contribution, a statement added. It supports survivors' immediate needs and long-term stability that will empower and equip survivors and their families to help prevent revictimization, including but not limited to emergency housing and career development support by funding community-based organizations. Since its inception, the fund has raised $2.5 million with contributions from Extended Stay America, G6 Hospitality, Hilton Global Foundation, Hyatt Hotels Foundation and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. "IHG Hotels & Resorts is committed to eradicating human trafficking, and this support of the NRFT Survivor Fund underscores our long-standing effort to condemn this exploitation and help survivors," said Elie Maalouf, IHG's CEO for the Americas. "The fund will play a crucial role in providing survivors with the support they need for future stability and success. Recognizing that our industry has a unique opportunity to fight human trafficking collectively, we proudly join our peers and AHLA Foundation in continuing to make impactful change."

IHG Hotels & Resorts' first-quarter 2024 RevPAR in the Americas declined by 0.3 percent year-over-year. This was driven by a 1.9 percent decrease in U.S. RevPAR, countered by an 11.3 percent increase in Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean combined. Occupancy dropped to 63.1 percent, down by 1.1 percentage points, while ADR in the Americas rose by 1.5 percent. Meanwhile, IHG's global RevPAR increased by 2.6 percent in the first quarter and the company opened 6,200 rooms (46 hotels) globally, marking an 11.1 percent year-over-year increase after adjusting for Iberostar, IHG said in a statement. "Global RevPAR in the first quarter of 2024 continued to grow, up 2.6 percent, reflecting the strength of our globally diverse footprint," said Elie Maalouf, IHG Hotels & Resorts' CEO. "There was an impressive performance in EMEAA, which was up nearly 9 percent. The Americas, having already recovered very strongly, was broadly flat due to some adverse calendar timing, and Greater China grew by 2.5 percent and will continue to benefit from returning international inbound travel this year. Global occupancy moved up to 62 percent and ADR increased by a further 2 percent as pricing remained robust, reflecting the complete return of leisure, business and group travel."

IHG HOTELS & RESORTS is set to launch a new brand targeted at midscale conversions, the company said during its first-half earnings call. Although the company has kept the brand's name under wraps, more than 100 hotels and their owners have displayed strong interest in the new brand. IHG, has previously established brands such as Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express in the upper-midscale category. It expects that the forthcoming brand will advance the company's growth within a $14 billion segment exclusive to the U.S. market. "As we expand our brand portfolio, we're pleased to announce an upcoming launch of a new brand aimed at midscale conversion opportunities," said Elie Maalouf, IHG's CEO. "Conversions offer substantial growth potential, constituting approximately 40 percent of global first-half openings and signings, reflecting owners' increasing eagerness to swiftly benefit from IHG's reach and enterprise. We're thrilled that over 100 hotels have already expressed definite interest in this new brand."

A CYBER-ATTACK "significantly disrupted" booking channels and other applications for InterContinental Hotels Group last week, according to a statement from the company. Now, AAHOA is demanding an explanation for the breach and assurances that its members' data is protected. IHG has implemented a response plan, including notifying the relevant regulatory authorities, working with its technology suppliers and engaging external specialists to investigate the incident, according to the company. 'IHG is working to fully restore all systems as soon as possible and to assess the nature, extent and impact of the incident," the company said. "We will be supporting hotel owners and operators as part of our response to the ongoing service disruption. IHG's hotels are still able to operate and to take reservations directly."

A LAWSUIT FILED in federal court in Washington state alleges that STR, owned by commercial real estate information researcher CoStar Group, along with several major hotel companies conspired to inflate luxury hotel rates. The seven individuals named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit seek to make it a class-action filing on behalf of every person who stayed at the defendants' hotels from February 2020 until the present for an unspecified amount. CoStar and hotel companies including IHG Hotel & Resorts, Marriott International and Hyatt Hotels Corp., entered an exchange of "competitively-sensitive information about their prices, supply, and future plans" in violation of the antitrust provisions of the Sherman Act, according to the lawsuit. STR and most of the other defendants in the suit did not respond to requests for comment in time for this article, but a spokesperson for IHG said the company could not comment on pending litigation. "Teddy Roosevelt passed the antitrust laws to prevent titans of industry from price fixing in smoke-filled rooms," Steve Berman, the plaintiffs' lead attorney told Reuters, calling the defendants' conduct the "modern equivalent." The alleged price fixing happened in major cities including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, Denver, Washington, D.C., and Seattle. The lawsuit focuses on STR's "Forward STAR" product that was expanded into many of those markets in April after launching 17 of the country's 25 largest hotel markets, including Las Vegas, New York City, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Boston and Phoenix.

Joel Eisemann is now the senior advisor of real estate investment managing firm Noble Investment Group, the company said in a statement. Previously he was chief development officer for the Americas for IHG Hotels & Resorts. He will work with the Noble team to develop and scale the company's investment strategies as the firm continues the meaningful growth of its platform that serves institutional investors around the world, the statement added. Eisemann was with IHG for the past 11 years and retired last year. Under his leadership, IHG launched five new brands in the Americas and grew to approximately 5,000 hotels open and in the pipeline.

NEWCRESTIMAGE HAS SOLD most of its hotel portfolio, along with some other properties, in a $822 million transaction with Summit Hotel Properties. Dallas-based NewcrestImage will remain invested in Summit and will own and operate two historic hotels it recently acquired and plans to make new acquisitions in the future. The definitive contribution and purchase agreement includes 27 hotels with 3,709 guestrooms for $776.5 million, or $209,000 per key. It also includes $24.8 million for two parking structures and $20.7 million for the various financial incentives through Summit's joint venture with Singapore-based sovereign wealth fund GIC, made in 2019 to acquire hotels in the U.S. "NewcrestImage has assembled a collection of high-quality distinctive Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG hotel properties throughout the Sun Belt region, which will be a great addition to Summit's portfolio," said Mehul Patel, NewcrestImage's managing partner and CEO. "As we will become one of Summit's largest shareholders, we have confidence in Summit as one of the industry's leading owners with a highly regarded public platform. We believe the two portfolios create an excellent combination of hotels that have tremendous growth potential and are well-positioned to create long-term shareholder value as the lodging recovery continues."

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL and IHG Hotels & Resorts scored 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2022 Corporate Equality Index. The CEI is a benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality in the U.S. The index rates companies on criteria falling under four central pillars. That includes non-discrimination policies across business entities, equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families, supporting an inclusive culture and corporate social responsibility. This was the ninth consecutive year for Marriott to make a perfect score on the index. This year the index included 1,200 U.S.-based companies and 242 Mexico-based companies. "Marriott International has a more than 90-year history of fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging," Ty Breland, Marriott executive vice president and chief human resources officer, said in a statement. "We are proud of this recognition for the ninth consecutive year and will continue to implement policies and programs that create a welcoming workplace for all."

PEACHTREE HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT entered into a long-term contract with Savannah, Georgia-based HOS Management to operate nine hotels. The hotels are primarily in the Southeast and are Marriott, Hilton and IHG branded. PHM will manage hotel operations in compliance with hotel brand standards, scalable operating efficiencies, digital and market initiatives and other cost saving across the portfolio, according to Peachtree. PHM is part of Atlanta-based Peachtree Group, led by Jatin Desai and Mitul Patel as managing principals. "We have a wealth of experience managing hotels and providing best-in-class operations for our valued partners like HOS Management, who have entrusted us with their hotel operations," said Patrick Short, PHM president. "With 25 percent of our portfolio third-party managed, we are committed to protecting the assets value and driving bottom lines results for our partners while providing an outstanding experience for our hotel guests."

MAYA HOTELS RECENTLY celebrated the 25th anniversary of its first ground-up hotel, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Belmont in Belmont, North Carolina. The event marked the hotel's evolution from a 65-room establishment in 1999 to a modern 92-key hotel, while showcasing original site plans, franchise approval letters, snapshots from the 1999 grand opening and earned awards over the years. IHG Hotels & Resorts representative Jason Miller, local government officials, along with associates, community members, vendors and investors attended the event. "We came to the United States with nothing, but we knew one thing - this is the land of opportunity," said Baldev Thakor, Maya Hotels' cofounder. "We knew we wanted to build a Holiday Inn Express in this community and we knew there were many guests not being served," J.D. Deva, Maya Hotels cofounder, said. "Here we are, 25 years later, and it has been a remarkable journey."

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS brand from IHG Hotels & Resorts has reached a milestone of more than 3,000 hotels across the globe, a statement said. The brand accounts for more than a third of IHG's global pipeline, and nearly 650 properties are expected to open in the coming years. According to the statement, Holiday Inn Express opened 100 new hotels every year and now offers 300,000 rooms in 2100 cities. Columbus, Georgia-based RAM Hotels, owns four Holiday Inn Express properties and Mitesh "Matt" Patel, executive vice president, described it as a power brand. "Holiday Inn express is and has always been a power brand. It performs very well in the markets we own them in," he said. "We always set Hampton as a benchmark for our Holiday Inn Express and tend to drive comparable RevPAR to Hampton Inn brand. Our Holiday Inn Express did very well during the pandemic and recovered within two to three months post pandemic."