Hospitality giant IHG to open 6 hotels in Vietnam as tourism booms

By Hoang Phong November 26, 2024 | 10:20 pm PT

A swimming pool inside IHG's new hotel scheduled to open in Da Nang later this year. Photo courtesy of IHG

Global operator IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to open six new hotels in Vietnam by the end of next year, as the country expects to welcome 25–28 million foreign visitors, nearly 1.5 times this year's figure.

The upcoming hotels will be located in popular tourist destinations, including Da Nang, Hoi An, and Quang Binh, the latter home to the world's largest cave Son Doong.

In the first ten months of this year, Vietnam welcomed approximately 14 million foreign visitors, a 41% year-on-year increase, and is on track to reach 18 million by the end of 2024, nearly matching pre-pandemic levels.

For 2025, the country has set an ambitious target of attracting 25–28 million foreign arrivals, comparable to Thailand’s 2023 figures.

Rajit Sukumaran, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for East Asia & Pacific at IHG Hotels & Resorts, highlighted Vietnam's strong tourism potential.

"We’re also witnessing significant growth in group and meeting bookings, with the third quarter of this year marking a record period for Vietnam and globally," Sukumaran said.

He added that Vietnam’s international travel demand is surging, fueled by new air routes connecting cities across Asia.

IHG, which owns 19 brands including InterContinental and Holiday Inn, is poised to double its presence in Vietnam. The company plans to expand from its current 16 hotels with 4,800 rooms to over 40 properties offering 12,000 rooms in the coming time.

Globally, IHG operates more than 6,400 hotels in over 100 countries and territories.

A recent report by consulting firm Savills Hotels ranked Vietnam second in the Asia-Pacific region for the number of hotels and resorts under development, trailing only India.