IHG lists 21 brands in five groups: Luxury & Lifestyle, Premium, Essentials, Suites and Exclusive Partners. Luxury & Lifestyle holds Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental, Vignette Collection, Kimpton and Hotel Indigo. Essentials holds Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, Garner and avid. The dedicated extended-stay brands are Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. Almost every brand earns IHG One Rewards points, but Six Senses, Iberostar Beachfront Resorts and Ruby only count at participating hotels, and Noted Collection, the newest brand, is not on the participating list and had no open hotels at 30 June 2026. Bookings through online travel agents do not earn points on the room rate, though other eligible charges can earn points.
How big is IHG?
IHG's development site shows 7,109 open hotels, 1,048,731 open rooms, 2,385 pipeline hotels and 347,691 pipeline rooms, all as at 30 June 2026. "Pipeline" means hotels signed or under development but not yet open.
Brand figures below come from each brand's page on IHG plc's site, also as at 30 June 2026. Don't add them up to make a new total. Holiday Inn Club Vacations is counted in resorts and villas rather than hotels, and IHG does not give separate counts for Holiday Inn Resort or Holiday Inn - the niu (see the Essentials section).
The five groups at a glance
| Group | Brands | What IHG says the group is for |
|---|---|---|
| Luxury & Lifestyle | Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental, Vignette Collection, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo | Design-led boutiques, wellness havens and resort locations |
| Premium | Noted Collection, voco, Ruby, HUALUXE, Crowne Plaza, EVEN Hotels | Business travel, or a healthier lifestyle, with a personal touch |
| Essentials | Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, Garner, avid | Familiar brands that supply what you need |
| Suites | Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Candlewood Suites | Kitchens, separate bedrooms, longer stays |
| Exclusive Partners | Iberostar Beachfront Resorts | Beachfront resort and all-inclusive stays |
ihg.com calls the last group "Exclusive Alliances"; IHG's development site calls it "Exclusive Partners". It is the same group. A group is IHG's positioning, not a star rating.
One oddity: the FAQ on ihg.com lists five luxury brands (InterContinental, Kimpton, Six Senses, Regent, Vignette Collection) and leaves out Hotel Indigo. The collection pages and IHG plc both put Hotel Indigo in Luxury & Lifestyle, so this guide does too.
Luxury & Lifestyle: Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental, Vignette Collection, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo
Counts are open hotels, open rooms and pipeline hotels as at 30 June 2026.
| Brand | Open hotels | Open rooms | Pipeline | How IHG describes it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six Senses | 27 | 2,120 | 33 | Tropical islands to urban sites; wellness and sustainability focus |
| Regent | 11 | 3,212 | 14 | "Modern upper luxury" in gateway cities and resort destinations |
| InterContinental | 242 | 76,833 | 103 | Called the world's first international luxury hotel brand; historic buildings to resorts |
| Vignette Collection | 38 | 9,305 | 46 | One-off independent luxury hotels sharing a set of standards |
| Kimpton | 90 | 17,563 | 67 | Design-led boutique hotels and restaurants with a local flavour |
| Hotel Indigo | 198 | 26,726 | 134 | Boutique hotels tied to their neighbourhood; launched 2004 |
What this means in practice:
- Six Senses is the wellness-resort pick, and it is small. Two more things to know: IHG One Rewards applies only at specific Six Senses properties, and IHG's terms say Reward Nights may not be available there.
- Regent is described by IHG as "modern upper luxury", and with 11 open hotels as at 30 June 2026 it is the rarest of the six.
- InterContinental is the biggest luxury brand by a wide margin, so it is the one most likely to exist in the city you need. IHG's FAQ lists it among the brands that offer suites and business facilities.
- Vignette Collection hotels are independent and different from each other. Expect the standards to be shared, not the look. It had 38 open hotels at 30 June 2026.
- Kimpton is IHG's lifestyle-luxury brand. Its brand FAQ says pets stay free, with policies varying by location.
- Hotel Indigo is the largest of the design-led brands, with 198 open hotels and another 134 in the pipeline.
Premium: Noted Collection, voco, Ruby, HUALUXE, Crowne Plaza, EVEN Hotels
| Brand | Open hotels | Open rooms | Pipeline | How IHG describes it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noted Collection | 0 | 0 | 3 | Collection of one-of-one independent hotels, mostly conversions |
| voco | 148 | 30,219 | 122 | Unstuffy, individual-character hotels under a global brand |
| Ruby | 20 | 3,582 | 22 | City-centre hotels, mostly in Europe (London, Geneva, Cologne) |
| HUALUXE | 28 | 7,430 | 19 | Built around Chinese hospitality and culture |
| Crowne Plaza | 433 | 115,179 | 151 | Upscale, aimed at blending work and life |
| EVEN Hotels | 48 | 7,258 | 24 | Wellness at the core: fitness, healthy food, relaxing space |
- Noted Collection. IHG announced it on 17 February 2026 as its 21st brand. It targets upscale to upper-upscale independent hotels that convert, and IHG says it will roll out starting in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. IHG expects more than 150 hotels "in the next decade", which is an expectation, not a fact. As at 30 June 2026, it had 0 open hotels and 3 in the pipeline. It is not in the participating-brands list of IHG's terms (last updated 24 June 2026), and it does not appear among the brand cards on ihg.com's brands page.
- voco is the conversion-friendly premium brand for hotels that keep their own personality.
- Ruby was acquired by IHG in 2025, according to IHG's February 2026 release. IHG's terms say Ruby hotels "will be continuously integrated into IHG One Rewards starting in January 2026" and to check the individual hotel's website. Do not assume any given Ruby earns points.
- HUALUXE is IHG's Chinese-hospitality brand. Its IHG page names a Chinese restaurant (Cai Feng Lou), a noodle bar (Mian+) open until midnight, and a tea space (LUXE Tea).
- Crowne Plaza is the largest Premium brand and IHG's business-travel default. IHG's FAQ lists it with workspaces, meeting facilities and suites, and says some Crowne Plaza resorts offer all-inclusive packages.
- EVEN Hotels are the wellness pick in Premium. IHG's FAQ groups them with Six Senses for fitness features and healthy dining.
Essentials: Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, Garner, avid
| Brand | Open hotels | Open rooms | Pipeline | How IHG describes it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday Inn Express | 3,335 | 356,590 | 664 | IHG's biggest brand; simple, smart stays with Wi-Fi and hot breakfast (ihg.com brand card) |
| Holiday Inn | 1,259 | 228,215 | 318 | First hotel opened 1952; service-led "brighter side of travel" |
| Garner | 112 | 10,693 | 110 | Midscale conversion brand; relaxed, affordable, character-led |
| avid | 87 | 7,677 | 118 | The essentials done well at a fair price |
- Holiday Inn Express is IHG's biggest brand, with 3,335 open hotels. IHG's FAQ says it often offers free breakfast; availability varies by property.
- Holiday Inn is the family and business all-rounder. ihg.com also shows two variants inside the Essentials group, Holiday Inn Resort (family holidays and events; on the terms' participating list) and Holiday Inn - the niu (city hotels). IHG's portfolio pages count 21 brands without them, so treat them as Holiday Inn versions rather than extra brands.
- Garner and avid are the value-minded brands. IHG's FAQ lists both, plus Holiday Inn Express and Candlewood Suites, as its affordability-focused brands with complimentary amenities. It also says Garner and avid often offer free breakfast.
Suites: Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Candlewood Suites
| Brand | Open | Rooms or villas | Pipeline | How IHG describes it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atwell Suites | 11 hotels | 1,170 rooms | 61 | New upper-midscale all-suites brand |
| Staybridge Suites | 355 hotels | 38,906 rooms | 152 | Spacious suites for stays of a week, a month or more |
| Holiday Inn Club Vacations | 24 resorts | 8,415 villas | 0 | Resort and vacation-ownership company for families; US and Mexico |
| Candlewood Suites | 433 hotels | 38,359 rooms | 204 | Long stays, guest laundry, outdoor gathering spaces |
IHG says the Suites group offers full kitchens, separate bedrooms, guest social hours and shared outdoor spaces. Its FAQ names Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites as the dedicated extended-stay brands. Atwell Suites is an all-suites brand but is not listed there as extended-stay, and with 11 open hotels it is far from everywhere.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations is a different product from a hotel. IHG describes it as a resort and vacation-ownership company, counted in resorts and villas. IHG's terms also flag Royal Resorts by Holiday Inn Club Vacations, four all-inclusive properties in Mexico, as subject to specific exclusions.
Exclusive Partners: Iberostar Beachfront Resorts
Iberostar Beachfront Resorts had 65 open hotels, 22,138 open rooms and 5 in the pipeline at 30 June 2026. IHG describes it as beachfront all-inclusive, from family resorts to adult-only retreats, under three lines: JOIA by Iberostar, Iberostar Selection and Iberostar Waves. The portfolio excludes Iberostar's interests in Cuba. Not every Iberostar resort takes part in IHG One Rewards, so only the participating ones count for points.
Other IHG all-inclusive options exist, according to IHG's FAQ: select Holiday Inn Resort and Crowne Plaza resort properties in places such as Cancun, Cozumel, Riviera Maya and Riviera Nayarit, and some InterContinental resorts.
Which brands earn points and count toward status?
The IHG One Rewards terms (last updated 24 June 2026) list these participating brands: Atwell Suites, avid, Candlewood Suites, Crowne Plaza, EVEN, Garner, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Resort, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Hotel Indigo, HUALUXE, InterContinental, Kimpton, Regent, Staybridge Suites, Vignette Collection and voco. Three more join the list with a condition:
| Brand | What IHG's terms say |
|---|---|
| Six Senses | Participating properties only; Reward Nights may not be available |
| Iberostar Beachfront Resorts | Participating resorts only; Cuba excluded |
| Ruby | Participating hotels only; being integrated from January 2026; check the hotel's own website |
| Noted Collection | Not on the participating list at 24 June 2026 |
Where a brand is not on the list at all, the terms do not say what happens.
Two rules from the same terms matter more than any brand choice:
- Points rate. Members earn 10 points per US dollar (or local currency equivalent) on qualifying stays at most IHG hotels, and 5 points per US dollar at Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites and Residences (serviced apartments and extended-stay units). Tax, VAT, service charges and gratuities do not earn points.
- Online travel agents. Bookings through online travel agents such as Expedia.com and booking.com are non-qualifying, so they earn no points on the room rate and generally do not receive member benefits during the stay; other eligible charges can earn points. The exception is "Authorized Travel Agents", platforms with direct distribution agreements with IHG. If you book through Iberostar's own website or contact centre, the terms say you must add your IHG One Rewards number to the booking.
How the elite tiers work
Status is counted per calendar year, and status earned in one year runs through the end of the next, according to the terms. Status can be earned through qualifying nights or elite qualifying points, including points from sources other than hotel stays; an OTA booking does not add qualifying nights. Reward Nights do count as qualifying nights. IHG's tier page currently lists these thresholds and bonuses; that page has no date, so check it on ihg.com before you rely on the numbers.
| Tier | Qualifying nights | Or elite qualifying points | Bonus points on stays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Elite | 10 | Not offered | 20% |
| Gold Elite | 20 | 40,000 | 40% |
| Platinum Elite | 40 | 60,000 | 60% |
| Diamond Elite | 70 | 120,000 | 100% |
The terms count only one night per day, so two rooms on the same night are one qualifying night. Elite tier bonus points do not count toward status.
IHG's Ambassador page currently states that InterContinental Ambassador, a paid programme separate from your IHG One Rewards tier with Ambassador benefits applying only at InterContinental hotels, costs USD 225 for 12 months or 45,000 points for IHG One Rewards members.
Which should you choose?
Start from the trip, then check that the specific hotel exists and takes part in the programme.
| Your situation | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Short business trip with meetings or a workspace | Crowne Plaza, voco, EVEN, Holiday Inn; InterContinental if you want luxury | IHG's FAQ lists these among brands with workspaces and meeting facilities |
| Simple, low-fuss stay with breakfast | Holiday Inn Express, Garner, avid | IHG says they often include free breakfast; availability varies by hotel |
| Family holiday | Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, avid, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites | IHG lists family-oriented amenities at all six |
| Family beach week, all-inclusive | Iberostar (participating resorts) or select Holiday Inn Resort and Crowne Plaza resorts | IHG's FAQ lists all-inclusive at these |
| A week, a month or more in one place | Staybridge Suites or Candlewood Suites | IHG's dedicated extended-stay brands |
| Wellness-led resort | Six Senses | Wellness is central to its IHG description |
| Wellness on a city trip | EVEN Hotels | IHG groups it with Six Senses for wellness |
| A hotel with local character | Kimpton, Hotel Indigo, voco, Vignette Collection | Design-led, locally inspired |
| Travelling with a pet | Kimpton (pets stay free) | Candlewood (US locations) and select Hotel Indigo, Staybridge and Holiday Inn also accept pets; policy varies by hotel |
| Points and status matter most | Any brand on the participating list, booked direct | Six Senses, Iberostar and Ruby take part hotel by hotel |
| You want a brand with many locations | Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, Candlewood, Staybridge, Crowne Plaza | Largest open-hotel counts in the table |
Two cautions: the official pages don't say what a room costs, so compare the rate for your dates, and do not plan a trip around Noted Collection yet, since it had no open hotels at 30 June 2026.
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