In brief
- Hospitality giant IHG Hotels & Resorts signs a historic agreement for a portfolio of 14 hotels in Kyoto.
- The operation totals 1,063 rooms spread across twelve Garner properties, one Holiday Inn Express, and an unbranded location.
- This partnership with GCP Hospitality includes conversions and phased openings over the next twelve months.
On Monday 24 August 2026, IHG Hotels & Resorts formalised the signing of a landmark 14-hotel portfolio agreement in Kyoto, in a long-term partnership with GCP Hospitality, the hospitality arm of Gaw Capital Group. This large-scale operation, covering a total of 1,063 rooms, marks one of the most significant hotel conversion transactions completed in Japan in recent years and positions the British group as one of the major international players in the former imperial capital. This ambitious project illustrates the continued appeal of the Japanese market for institutional investors and global operators, who are keen to capture high-end tourism and business flows in strategic geographical areas. By combining the power of a global hospitality giant with the asset management expertise of Gaw Capital Group, this initiative promises to be a major turning point for the region’s hotel landscape, redefining hospitality standards in one of the world’s most sought-after cultural destinations.
Portfolio fact sheet
- Operators: IHG Hotels & Resorts and GCP Hospitality (Gaw Capital Group)
- Destination: Kyoto, Japan (Kyoto Station, Shijo, and Gojo districts)
- Portfolio size: 14 properties totalling 1,063 rooms
- Brand breakdown: 12 Garner hotels, 1 Holiday Inn Express, 1 unbranded hotel
- Rollout schedule: Phased openings over the next 12 months
A major offensive for IHG Hotels & Resorts
A major hotel offensive in Japan
This major deal redraws Kyoto’s hospitality map by introducing the Garner brand on a massive scale, IHG’s midscale, fast-conversion brand, alongside a third Holiday Inn Express in the archipelago. In total, twelve Garner hotels, one Holiday Inn Express, and one unbranded property will join the group’s global network over the next twelve months, following targeted renovation and aesthetic repositioning phases. The future properties will thus benefit from immediate access to IHG’s powerful technology, marketing, and distribution platforms, as well as the IHG One Rewards global loyalty programme. This rapid expansion relies on a particularly agile integration model designed to minimise business disruption while enforcing extremely strict international quality standards. By converting operational assets, IHG and GCP Hospitality are optimising resource allocation and meeting the growing demand for modern accommodations that combine local authenticity with operational reliability.
The Japanese hospitality market is currently undergoing a profound transformation, characterised by a constant search for efficiency and adaptation to the evolving expectations of international travellers. In this context, the coordinated introduction of 14 hotels within a single urban destination is a landmark event. It not only generates significant operational synergies but also offers a diverse range of accommodation options under globally recognised banners. The choice of Kyoto, a city of art and history par excellence, highlights the importance of establishing a dense infrastructure network to manage tourist concentration and offer high-quality accommodation alternatives outside traditional ultra-luxury segments.
The meteoric rise of the Garner brand
The rising power of the Garner brand
Launched globally in August 2023, the Garner brand has established itself as the fastest-growing brand in IHG’s history, having recently passed the milestone of 100 open properties worldwide. Following a successful initial foray into the Japanese market in 2025 with the opening of three locations in Osaka, this major expansion in Kyoto confirms the immense growth potential of this flexible and relaxed hospitality concept. The business hotel segment in Japan, historically dominated by local operators, represents an exceptional growth opportunity for international brands capable of offering rigorous standards of comfort and optimal connectivity.
The Garner brand precisely addresses the expectations of contemporary travellers who favour an unpretentious yet highly functional stay. By focusing on the essential elements of a successful stay: a warm welcome, premium bedding, high-speed internet access, and an inviting living space, Garner sets itself apart from standard market offerings. This service philosophy allows properties to adapt easily to various real estate layouts, greatly simplifying conversion processes for owners seeking to join a global network without undertaking heavy and complex architectural restructuring work.
Strategic locations in the heart of Kyoto
Ideally located in the city’s most sought-after districts, particularly around Kyoto Station, Shijo, and Gojo, these 14 properties will provide travellers with immediate proximity to major transport hubs and cultural treasures. This expansion complements an already prestigious local offering for IHG Hotels & Resorts, which already operates iconic properties there such as Six Senses Kyoto, ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto, and Garner Hotel Kyoto Shijo Karasuma. Thanks to this high-calibre regional network, IHG secures prominent visibility among discerning domestic and international guests drawn to the rich history of this remarkable destination.
The location of these future hotels has been strategically planned to address travel flows within Kyoto with surgical precision. The area around Kyoto Station is the main point of convergence for travellers arriving by Shinkansen from Tokyo or Osaka, while the Shijo and Gojo districts lie at the crossroads of business activity, traditional shopping areas, and direct access to the city’s famous shrines and temples. This optimal geographical positioning ensures reduced transfer times for guests and immediate immersion in the city’s unique atmosphere, consolidating the commercial appeal of the entire hotel asset portfolio.
A trusted partnership with GCP Hospitality
A strategic partnership with GCP Hospitality
This major project consolidates the key relationship between IHG and GCP Hospitality, which will lead the operational management teams across the entire 14-hotel portfolio. By leveraging GCP’s local expertise and the commercial strength of a global hospitality giant, both partners intend to capitalise on the strong recovery of tourism in Japan. Erwann Mahé, Chief Executive Officer of GCP Hospitality, welcomed this historic collaboration, which strategically repositioned these real estate assets within one of the Asia-Pacific region’s most dynamic and resilient tourism markets.
GCP Hospitality, renowned for its deep expertise in hotel asset and operational management in Asia, brings an intimate understanding of service and management dynamics in the Japanese market. This synergy between GCP’s ground-level expertise and IHG’s global distribution infrastructure makes it possible to maximise the commercial performance of each property as soon as it opens under its new banner. This type of strategic partnership demonstrates the relevance of contemporary collaborative models, where the investor, asset manager, and brand join forces to optimise the value of premier hotel real estate portfolios.
Conversion dynamics: an agile growth lever
In a global macroeconomic climate defined by high construction costs and particularly strict urban planning regulations, converting existing hotels has emerged as the preferred solution for rapid, sustainable expansion. In Kyoto, a city of art and history where preserving architectural heritage is an absolute priority for local authorities, obtaining planning permission for new buildings proves extremely complex and time-consuming. Using a conversion model makes it possible to bypass these major obstacles by adding value to existing structures while adapting them to contemporary standards of comfort and safety.
This responsible approach to hotel development is fully aligned with sustainability goals, limiting the carbon footprint associated with structural works. Planned renovations for this portfolio will focus primarily on modernising living spaces, energy optimisation, room refurbishments, and incorporating the visual brand identity of Garner and Holiday Inn Express. This targeted transformation ensures a smooth, swift transition to IHG’s standards of excellence, allowing the first guests to be welcomed under optimal conditions as soon as repositioning works are complete.
Integration into the global network and the strength of the loyalty programme
The integration of these 14 properties into the global IHG Hotels & Resorts ecosystem represents a decisive competitive advantage for this hotel portfolio. Future guests will enjoy immediate access to the group’s digital tools, including streamlined booking solutions and an end-to-end connected user experience. Furthermore, direct access to the IHG One Rewards global loyalty programme will attract a loyal, highly qualified international clientele accustomed to consistent service standards around the world.
This distribution power is essential to support the rapid scaling of converted properties within Kyoto’s highly competitive tourism market. By driving upfront demand through its global platforms, IHG ensures maximum visibility for GCP Hospitality’s properties. This technological and commercial synergy highlights the importance for investors of partnering with global hotel networks to maximise occupancy rates and long-term profitability for their real estate assets.
