Revealing results for the calendar year 2022, IHG said demand last year in most of its markets pushed revenue per room “back close to 2019 levels”, with leisure travel first to recover. The group achieved an operating profit of $628 million for the year, up 27% on 2021.

IHG chief executive Keith Barr said: “Looking to 2023, while there are economic uncertainties, we expect continued strong leisure demand in many markets, alongside further return of business and group travel and the ongoing reopening of China.”
 

In December, Iberostar Beachfront Resorts was added to the group, bringing 12,000 rooms and becoming IHG’s 18th brand.

IHG signed 467 hotels in 2022 and opened 269, which led to net system growth of more than 4%. The Holiday Inn brand family made up around a third of hotel signings and half of openings.

Another 1,800 hotels in the pipeline will mean future growth in excess of 30%, it added. 

IHG’s global estate now stands at 912,000 rooms in 6,164 hotels.

A new mobile app launched during the year now accounts for more than half of all digital bookings.