IHG Owners Association

Join us Tuesday, June 18 at 1 PM ET for our Expert Session on empowering women in hospitality. Tune in to hear from the Chair of the Association’s Women’s Network, Tonya Muncey, who will be speaking with Peggy Berg, Founder of the Castell Project, on their experiences as female leaders in hospitality, including insights into how to support women in leadership positions and their best practices for navigating business relationships and self-branding. Members can register today by logging into the Member Center at center.owners.org.

The IHG Owners Association’s 2023 Annual Report has been released! Highlighting another year of the Association’s many value-driven benefits, programs and events, readers will glean insights into the return of the Emerging Leaders Network in the Americas, our in-person meetings in the Americas and EMEAA, advocacy results from our specialized Working Groups, letters from leadership and more. Members can log into the Member Center at center.owners.org to read the Annual Report today.

Throughout April and May, the Association hosted a series of Europe Regional Owner Meetings, bringing together members and IHG senior leadership to discuss the latest updates covering technology, commercial, guest experience and sustainability. Led in partnership by the Association’s Working Group leaders and IHG’s Joanna Kurowska, Eric Viale and Mario Maxeiner, these meetings represented another key step in our ongoing advocacy for IHG owners.

IHG Hotels & Resorts is excited to unveil the latest additions to its growing portfolio, just in time for a strong travel season! Adding to the more than 6,000 open hotels worldwide, guests can explore an array of top travel destinations, including Bozeman Yellowstone, Grand Cayman, Kyoto, Budapest and Zion National Park. Read more about each of these beautiful properties at bit.ly/4ecROab.

Association members across the India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA) region met in Dubai last week at the Holiday Inn Dubai Business Bay with senior IHG leadership to discuss the latest updates and topics impacting owners. A big thank you to IMEA Chair Hassan Ahdab and IHG’s Amith Khanna for their efforts to ensure the voice of the owner is heard at the highest level.

Happy Memorial Day from the IHG Owners Association! In observance of the holiday, the Association's offices will be closed May 24-27.

Memorial Day weekend in the U.S. is the perfect excuse for travelers to visit family, celebrate milestones and explore new places. During this unofficial start of the summer, AAA projects 43.8 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more over the weekend, with an expectation of about 38.4 million people traveling by car and 3.5 million traveling by air—nearly matching the record number of travelers set in 2005. Read more about these travel projections, including their top destinations, at bit.ly/4bO0d1s.

The 2024 National Hotel Association of Canada Conference begins this week, running Wednesday, May 22 through Friday, May 24 in beautiful Montreal. Don’t miss out on the largest gathering of hospitality professionals across Canada, where industry leaders will find insightful sessions, networking opportunities and innovative ideas to help elevate their business. Learn more today at bit.ly/3V50eZw.

Join the Association next Tuesday, May 21 at 1 PM ET for our upcoming Expert Session with Gold-level Allied Member STR titled “Industry Results and Summer 2024 Outlook.” Tune in to hear the travel giant's forecast for the approaching summer travel season from Vice President Isaac Collazo, who will overview important industry analytics to help inform your operations. Members can log in at center.owners.org to register today!

Happening Now: In honor of Celebrate Service week across the Americas, the Association organized an afternoon dessert break for the hardworking hotel team at The Kimpton Pittman Hotel in Dallas. Held during a meeting of our Chair Leadership Committee, which meets to discuss cross-functional topics with IHG, Association CEO John Muehlbauer and 2024 Chair Nellie Dhanji offered their appreciation to the Kimpton’s hard-working staff.

Thank you to all hotel teams that work every day to create unforgettable stays and provide True Hospitality to our guests.

Gain business-building insights with OWNER magazine, available exclusively to Association members. Featuring an inside look into 2024 Chair Nellie Dhanji’s historic appointment and the Global Board’s visionary priorities for the year ahead, this issue also overviews the Association's Women's Network, the restoration of a Holiday Inn "Great Sign" and the opening of Molo Hotel Group’s The Halyard Liverpool. Visit bit.ly/4bGhJF3 to read a preview now or members can find the full issue by logging in at center.owners.org.

Association members across the MLAC region can join us Thursday, May 23 at 11:00 AM CT (Mexico City Time) for our upcoming Spanish Expert Session with IHG’s Owner Learning team. Be sure to tune in to learn all about IHG University, the lessons available through Owner Learning Solutions and upcoming improvements to the program. Register today by logging in at center.owners.org.

Happening Now: The Association’s Holiday Inn Express Committee, led by Chair Chet Patel, is meeting with senior IHG leadership at the Hotel Indigo Jacksonville – Deerwood Park in Jacksonville, FL. The engine of our advice and counsel, these owner volunteers are holding productive discussions to ensure that all brand standards and initiatives are created with owner profitability top of mind.

IHG Hotels & Resorts has launched Apple AirPlay integration in over 60 locations across North America, a first in the hospitality industry. Allowing guests to conveniently stream content privately and securely from their Apple device to the TV in their rooms, this initiative not only enhances their experience, but helps owners stay at the forefront of their market. Read more at bit.ly/4biwGwD.

Last week saw the Association’s Global Technology and Hotel Indigo Committees meet in Atlanta at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia. Bringing together owner volunteers and IHG leadership to provide advice and counsel on new technology and brand standards and initiatives, these meetings resulted in very productive discussions ensuring the voice of the owner is always heard. Read more about our Working Groups at bit.ly/45v56JV.

According to insights from the Global Business Travel Association - GBTA 2024 Canada Conference, business travel is poised for a strong year across Canada, with travel spend reaching $25.9 billion—an annual growth of 13.5%—and business travel predicted to return to 2019 levels. Read more details from this report and the GBTA Conference at bit.ly/3Qm2xo3.

Association members across the EMEAA region can join us Tuesday, May 7, at 1 PM BST for our upcoming Expert Session, “Introduction to Revision – IHG’s Evolution Within Commercial Optimisation.” Tune in to hear from Jesper Johansen, Commercial Director, UK&I at IHG, who will be overviewing N2Pricing, IHG’s new revenue optimisation tool, and how hotels and commercial leaders can utilise the programme to drive optimal outcomes. Log into the Member Center at bit.ly/3Uk6ESU to register today.

Congratulations to IHG Hotels & Resorts, whose IHG One Rewards mobile app has taken home three prestigious Webby Awards! Amid stiff competition from over 13,000 entries worldwide, IHG’s victories in the People’s Voice Travel Apps & Software, People’s Voice Best User Experience and Webby Travel Apps & Software categories are a testament to the app’s innovation and ease of use. IHG owners can learn more on Merlin at bit.ly/3xQdHv3.

The Association hosted its H1 Mexico & Latin America/Caribbean (LAC) Meeting at the beautiful Holiday Inn México Buenavista in Mexico City on April 18-19. Bringing together Association members from across the MLAC region, the meetings allowed owners to hear directly from Association and IHG leadership on topics, such as procurement and operations, as well as enjoy valuable networking opportunities with one another.

Today is the 54th annual International Earth Day, an important time to reflect on our impact on the environment as hotel owners and operators. This year’s theme is centered on Planet vs Plastics, a call to phase out single-use plastics and spread awareness of the health and environmental impact of plastics on the world and its communities. Read more about Earth Day and what you and your teams can do to help out at www.earthday.org.

Check out the latest episode of the Association’s Hotelier Hot Topics podcast, titled “Let’s Talk All Things Automation.” Listen in to hear from guest Naomi Battison, Business Development Manager of the Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University, who speaks on the growing importance of automation and how hoteliers can take advantage of it in their operations. Listen in at bit.ly/3w1dzII.

The Association’s Crowne Plaza and IHG One Rewards Committees came together this past week at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia. Comprised and led by owner volunteers, these groups had productive discussions with senior IHG leadership on specific brand initiatives and to ensure the loyalty program is delivering for both owners and guests. Read more about how our Working Groups advocate on owners’ behalf at bit.ly/45v56JV.

As profit margins have continued to tighten, it has become essential for hoteliers to take advantage of every opportunity to drive revenue. Association members across EMEAA (Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australasia) are invited to join us on Thursday, April 18 at 1 PM BST for our upcoming Expert Session with Allied Member VNP Solutions, who will review how their proprietary process reconciles revenue lost to OTAs through canceled non-refundable bookings. Register today by reaching out to Carly Hunt at [email protected].

It’s official—IHG Hotels & Resorts has been ranked #28 on Fortune's esteemed 100 Best Companies to Work For in the United States! Created to recognize companies that offer a genuine commitment to meet employees’ needs, this placement marks IHG’s first return to the list since 2012 and highlights their work toward DEI initiatives and creating an environment that attracts top talent to hotels. Read more at bit.ly/43Nkvpa.

As sustainability becomes a more important differentiator to guests worldwide, hoteliers have turned to a number of creative ways to reduce their environmental footprint. For Grupo Presidente, this includes an initiative to replace all plastic water bottles with glass at its largest hotel, the InterContinental Presidente Mexico City. Visit bit.ly/4adXaPT to read about VP of Operations Julien Debarle’s green journey with How I Did It from our recent issue of OWNER magazine.

The AHLA Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Hotel & Lodging Association - AHLA, has announced its 2024 Board of Trustees, chaired by Julienne Smith, IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Chief Development Officer, Americas. Read more about the AHLA Foundation’s mission of supporting the careers of the hotel workforce—the very heart of hospitality—and find a full listing of their Board at bit.ly/3W25IFt.

Developers of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ three suites brands—Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites and Atwell Suites—will soon be enjoying greater flexibility through new prototype room options. Emphasizing space optimization and new potential efficiencies while retaining current key features, these expanded design choices will help owners find the best fit for their market and guests. Read more at bit.ly/3J2E5V2.

Happy Easter from the IHG Owners Association! In observance of the holiday, the Association’s offices will be closed Friday, March 29 to Monday, April 1, 2024. We wish all celebrating a relaxing Easter with loved ones.

Check out the latest episode of CoStar Group’s Next Gen in Lodging Podcast, where host Davonne Reaves speak with hospitality leaders Rachel Vandenberg and Ntxhi Song on their experiences as women in hospitality. Centering on the importance of building a community, the broker and owner outline the challenges and triumphs of their careers and how they’ve seen the industry evolve. Listen in today at bit.ly/43xIKHG.

Happening Now: The 35th annual Hunter Hotel Investment Conference (HUNTER) is taking place in Atlanta, where thousands of hospitality professionals have gathered to learn, network and make deals. Association leaders and owner volunteers are attending to hear the latest insights from the industry’s greatest innovators, including this morning’s session with IHG’s Chief Development Officer Julienne Smith.