IHG Hotels & Resorts and BPEA Real Estate launch Holiday Inn Express brand in Japan with headline opening in Osaka in 2021

IHG Hotels & Resorts is bringing one of the world's largest and most beloved brands, Holiday Inn Express, to Japan for the first time with the opening of Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre Midosuji in December this year.

Following a landmark agreement with owner Baring Private Equity Asia, in what is their first ever hotel partnership globally, IHG is proud to add Japan to Holiday Inn Express' growing list of global destinations, building on its globally-renowned status.

IHG has worked towards bringing this iconic brand to Japan for several years, but has taken its time and has waited until it had the perfect asset, an AAA location and the ideal partner with whom to launch. This selective approach has paid off and, when it opens in December, the 306-room Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre Midosuji will make a stunning first for the brand in Japan, with fresh, bold and modern design and an unmatched location - which will be further enhanced by a full refurbishment in the first six months after opening.

Located in the heart of Osaka on its most famous Boulevard, Midosuji, just minutes' walk from the world famous Shinsaibashi retail & Namba entertainment districts, as well as Osaka's main Yodoyabashi financial district, Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre Midosuji will almost certainly boast Osaka's most privileged and desirable hotel address. Stepping out from the hotel, guests will be immersed in the best Osaka has on offer, including its renowned shopping, restaurants and nightlife.

The hotel will embrace the brand's hallmark of simple, smart travel, based on the idea that travel should be free from hassle and complication. Guests at Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre Midosuji will have everything they need to ensure they are more than ready for their day, including high-speed WiFi, high quality bedding, choice of pillows and - importantly - a cooked buffet breakfast and coffee, or takeout for those in a hurry. With all this, and more, it is destined to be the first choice for the increasing number of travelers who need a simple, engaging place to rest, recharge and get a little work done.

Abhijay Sandilya, Managing Director - Japan, IHG Hotels & Resorts and CEO IHG ANA Hotels Group　Japan, said: "We are honored to launch Holiday Inn Express in Japan in partnership with Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA), one of the largest independent private equity firms in Asia. We have been committed for some time to bringing this world-class brand to Japan when the time is right and now, with a great partner in BPEA, an amazing asset, and the world poised to reopen, we are thrilled to introduce Holiday Inn Express to the Japanese market.

"IHG is already a leading operator in Japan, with 37 hotels operating under the InterContinental, Kimpton, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Hotel Indigo brands, and now The Holiday Inn Express brand is well positioned to welcome value-conscious local and international travelers alike, with a smart offering that will appeal to Japanese guests, and a brand that is recognized and loved by travelers around the world."

Eric Siegel, Managing Director and Regional Head of Hospitality, BPEA Real Estate, commented: "We are very pleased to partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts to bring this great brand to Japan. The fully renovated Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre Midosuji, with its prime location in the heart of Osaka, directly on its most prestigious Midosuji Boulevard, will offer an exciting new stay option for domestic and international travelers visiting the area. We look forward to providing our guests with world-class comfort and smart hospitality that only Holiday Inn Express can provide. We are also grateful for all the trust and confidence multiple leading Japanese corporate counter parties placed in BPEA and IHG, all of whom acted in the highest professional manner to ensure a seamless execution of the transaction."

This year Holiday Inn Express celebrated its 30th anniversary by surpassing 3,000 open properties across the globe, with more than 300,000 rooms in 2,100 cities. It is part of the Holiday Inn brand family, the largest hotel brand in the world.

IHG Hotels & Resorts currently operates or franchises 37 hotels around Japan, under the InterContinental, Kimpton, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Hotel Indigo brands, as well as co-branded hotels as part of its joint venture with ANA. It also has 11 hotels in the pipeline, including Regent Kyoto and the 1,000 room Appil Kogen Resort which will feature ANA InterContinental, ANA Crowne Plaza and ANA Holiday Inn brands.

Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre Midosuji will join IHG's other hotels in Osaka, including InterContinental Osaka, ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka, Holiday Inn Shin Osaka and Holiday Inn Osaka Namba, as well as ANA Crowne Plazas in nearby Kobe and Kyoto.