IHG has reported a very strong Q1 trading performance with better than expected Global RevPAR growth of +4.4 percent.
It also experienced continued development momentum in Q1, with underlying signings and openings ahead of last year. IHG is confident of achieving consensus growth forecasts and profit expectations.
Highlights from its report included Q1 global rooms revenue on a comparable basis being strongest for Groups (+7 percent) and Business (+6 percent), while Leisure was +1 percent.
Gross system size growth was +6.6 percent YOY, +1.4 percent YTD; opened 14,900 rooms (82 hotels) in Q1, +2 percent more than the same period last year. Net system size growth was +5.0 percent YOY, +0.9 percent YTD; global system of 1,036k rooms (7,014 hotels).
IHG signed 21.4k rooms (163 hotels) in Q1, +6 percent more than the same period last year when excluding the Ruby brand acquisition in the comparable period; global pipeline of 343k rooms (2,347 hotels), +3 percent YOY. USD 240 million of 2026’s USD 950 million share buyback programme has been completed to date, reducing the share count by 1.1 percent.
“With thanks to our teams we delivered a very strong Q1 trading performance, benefiting from our diverse global footprint and better than expected demand in most regions around the world,” said Elie Maalouf, Chief Executive Officer of IHG Hotels & Resorts.
“Global RevPAR grew +4.4 percent, with notable strength in the US on top of good growth this time last year, and further acceleration in Greater China following a return to growth in the prior quarter. Our diverse EMEAA region also performed well despite challenges from the conflict in the Middle East, where we continue to do all we can to support our guests, teams and owners.”
Maalouf said that she was proud that IHG has reached the milestone of more than 7,000 hotels, having opened 81 properties during Q1. Strong pipeline momentum has also continued with the signing of 163 hotels, which was ahead of 2025. This has included IHG's new premium brand, Noted Collection, in EMEAA and the arrival of its Essentials conversion brand, Garner, to Greater China.
Maalouf added that demand for quick-to-market conversions to IHG’s brands and enterprise has continued to be high, and represented 35 percent of rooms opened and 53 percent of signings in the quarter.
Looking ahead, Maalouf said IHG’s comparable on-the-books global revenue for Q2 indicated continued growth, with the impact of the Middle East conflict and some wider disruption to international travel flows expected to be more than offset by increases in demand elsewhere.
“Our business model is strategically diversified and resilient in capturing demand across geographies, chain scales, and the different stay occasions of business, leisure and groups travel, as well as being heavily weighted to domestic and intra-regional travel,” said Maalouf.
“While still early, our confidence of achieving full-year consensus growth forecasts and profit expectations is underpinned by the strength of our performance year-to-date. We are delivering on our strategic priorities and growth algorithm, which capitalises on the scale and capabilities of IHG’s platform, our leading positions and the attractive long-term structural growth drivers for both demand and supply across our markets.”
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