IHG Hotels and Resorts adds 653 rooms to Spanish pipeline with a trio of Holiday Inn Express signings

IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, announced the signing of three franchise agreements for new-build Holiday Inn Express hotels in Spain, marking a significant strategic partnership with global alternative asset manager Tikehau Capital.

The Signings
- Total: 3 new-build Holiday Inn Express hotels, 653 rooms.
- Cities: Madrid (244 rooms), Málaga (259 rooms incl. 52 suites), Barcelona (150 rooms).
- Platform: First hotels under Selecto, a new select-service hotel platform by Tikehau Capital with Quest Capital as operating partner.

Holiday Inn Express Madrid – Julián Camarillo
- Largest Holiday Inn Express in Iberia.
- Located in MadBit tech/business district, near Barajas Airport & IFEMA convention center.
- Features: Gen 5 design, outdoor pool, fitness area.
- Opening: Q1 2028.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Málaga – Palacio de Congresos
- Next to FYCMA Trade Fair & Congress Centre.
- Features: Outdoor pool, sun deck, fitness area, Gen 5 design.
- Opening: Q1 2029.

Holiday Inn Express Barcelona – Fira
- Near Fira de Barcelona convention center, between airport & city center.
- Opening: Q1 2029.

Strategic Impact
- Largest single-partnership signing for Holiday Inn Express in Spain to date.
- Strengthens IHG’s footprint: 20+ Holiday Inn Express hotels already open in Spain, 4 more in pipeline.
- Globally: 3,304 open Holiday Inn Express hotels, 666 in pipeline.

Leadership Statement
- Willemijn Geels, VP Development, Europe (IHG):
> “Spain is an important growth market… Partnering with Tikehau Capital gives us a strong platform to accelerate growth in key Spanish cities.”

This move positions IHG to capture Spain’s booming tourism demand—Barcelona alone welcomed 16 million visitors in 2025, while Málaga province recorded 6.25 million tourists.