IHG Hotels & Resorts debuts in Kashmir with signing of a voco hotel

July 2^nd, 2024, National: IHG® Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with Geelan Residency for voco Srinagar - IHG's first hotel in Kashmir. Scheduled to open in Q4 2026, the signing is in line with IHG's strategy to expand presence across key leisure destinations in India and capitalize on the growing tourism industry in the country. The signing also marks the sixth voco hotel being developed in India and follows the opening of the first voco in Jim Corbett.

voco offers a premium experience to guests and combines the informality and charm of an individual hotel with the quality and reassurance of a global and respected brand. The brand has showcased remarkable growth trajectory since its debut in India in 2023 and has already expanded across markets such as Jim Corbett, Gurugram, Mumbai, Goa, and Punjab. The latest signing is testament to the growing popularity of the brand in India.

Located in the upmarket commercial area of the city, voco Srinagar will be easily accessible by road from the airport, major leisure attractions in the city and key residential areas. Additionally, the new-build hotel will be situated within a 2-hour driving distance from Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonmarg, making it an ideal choice for leisure travellers.

voco Srinagar will feature 95 well-appointed rooms, diverse dining options including an all-day dining and a pool deck and a fitness centre pool. In addition to hosting leisure guests from India and globally, the hotel will be well poised to cater to the demands for social gatherings and MICE.

Commenting on the signing, Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts said, "We are thrilled to establish our footprint in Kashmir with our premium brand, voco in partnership with Geelan Residency. Kashmir is one of the most popular leisure destinations in the country and has experienced an unprecedented boom in tourism in the past years. This has led to an increase in demand for quality branded accommodation. With its bold design and welcoming service, we are confident that voco Srinagar will become a preferred hotel for travellers visiting Kashmir.

He added, "Domestic tourism to leisure destinations is on the rise in India. We recognize the potential and this signing aligns with our commitment to expand IHG's presence in key leisure markets."

Mr. Javeed Jeelani, Managing Director, Geelan Residency added, "We are delighted to partner with an internationally and locally trusted hospitality brand like IHG Hotels & Resorts to debut the voco brand in Kashmir. We are confident that the hotel's prime location coupled with IHG's global standards, voco Srinagar is set to become an ideal choice for our guests."

IHG^® currently has 45 hotels operating across five brands in India, including Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts®, Crowne Plaza®, Holiday Inn Resort® and Holiday Inn Express®, with a strong pipeline of 50 hotels due to open in the next 3-5 years.