Holiday Inn Express unveils the 5.0 “Dawn”

Shanghai – IHG Hotels & Resorts’ (IHG) upper-midscale brand, Holiday Inn Express, has launched its latest 5.0 product model, “Dawn,” in response to evolving consumer expectations for value and a more thoughtful approach to hotel investment. This new model brings comprehensive upgrades in space design, service details, and smart experiences, driven by enhanced construction efficiency and optimized cost management. By delivering cost savings and operational improvements, the 5.0 aims to boost both investment returns and guest satisfaction. Through this strategic innovation, Holiday Inn Express reinforces its upper midscale offering by harmonizing quality experiences with commercial success.

Holiday Inn Express marked a significant milestone during the launch event for its latest 5.0 product model, securing agreements for thirty new projects. These developments are strategically located in prime areas, including CBD cores in tier-one cities, transportation hubs, popular cultural and tourism destinations, and key industrial parks—closely aligning with the brand’s site selection strategy and reflecting current investment trends in the sector. Notably, the event attracted a strong presence of returning property owners, resulting in repeat investments and multiple project signings. This positive response highlights the brand's robust market appeal and the high level of investor confidence in its long-term value. The success of this launch not only accelerates the brand's expansion but also reinforces Holiday Inn Express’s leadership in the upper midscale segment, bringing new momentum to its continued growth and energizing every investment and journey.

As someone who has been part of Holiday Inn Express's journey in Greater China, I know firsthand that staying ahead in a competitive market requires constant evolution—keeping pace with the times, anticipating customer needs, and refining every detail. Holiday Inn Express is not just IHG’s most expansive and consistently performing upper midscale brand; it’s also a core growth engine we’re deeply committed to. The new 5.0 is a bold reflection of our insight into the next generation of travelers. We want the revamped Holiday Inn Express to mirror the first light of dawn—illuminating the path for guests while guiding investors through changing market cycles, driving both growth and returns. Mr. Jerome Qiu, Chief Operating Officer, IHG Greater China

Holiday Inn Express unveils the 5.0 “Dawn”

Smarter with every journey

As a new generation of travelers seeks more diverse and dynamic experiences, the all-new Holiday Inn Express 5.0 model is committed to meeting their evolving needs. Staying true to the brand’s refreshed proposition “Recharge & Restart”, this latest iteration offers a range of comprehensive upgrades, from space design to guest experience. Tailored to both business and leisure travelers, it features flexible, multifunctional layouts, thoughtful room details, and smart, intuitive technology—delivering an ideal blend of efficiency, comfort, and connectivity to resonate with ambitious, efficiency-driven young movers.

• Revitalized Energy: The Holiday Inn Express 5.0 model features a fresh palette of brand colors and an upgraded lighting system, establishing a dynamic and inviting atmosphere that blends a sense of security with an energetic ambience to reinvigorate every journey.
• Smarter Efficiency: Breaking traditional boundaries, the hotel lobby now features a dedicated Focus Hub that effortlessly transitions between work, social, and relaxation settings. Additionally, the lobby is equipped with convenient takeaway lockers, offering a more efficient and thoughtful public space experience.
• More Enjoyable Comfort: Guest rooms have undergone a comprehensive upgrade, incorporating a range of thoughtfully designed amenities such as wireless charging, integrated 3-in-1 ports, motion-sensing nightlights, high-speed hairdryers, ergonomic chairs, smart toilets, and 65-inch smart TVs. Furthermore, the IHG Studio system seamlessly connects to smart laundry services, allowing guests to check laundry status at their convenience.

Smarter in returns, recharging every investment

As the investment market grows more sophisticated, mid-to-upscale select-service hotels are emerging as a new investment hotspot. The Holiday Inn Express 5.0 model enhances its promising investment value framework, supporting partners in achieving steady growth:

• Cost Control and Improved Investment Efficiency: Leveraging IHG’s established standardized system, Holiday Inn Express maintains a leading edge in cost management by further optimizing per-room construction cost to approximately RMB 145,000 for improved investment efficiency.
• Efficient construction, shortened return cycle: The 5.0 model integrates modular furniture and smart, lightweight designs to enhance functionality and cost-effectiveness. By adopting standardized solutions, the construction timeline is effectively shortened, accelerating returns on investment.

IHG further supports hotel owners through a three-tier procurement support system:

• Empowered through transparency: Through the IHG Global Procurement Platform, owners gain access to transparent pricing and service conditions, covering over 300 suppliers and more than 20,000 products.
• Empowered through service: A dedicated complaint feedback channel ensures that supplier-related issues receive a timely response and are properly addressed within 48 hours.
• Empowered through data: By consolidating data from over 6,000 suppliers and more than 150,000 records, IHG offers precise market price benchmarking to help owners choose the most cost-effective suppliers.

Smarter breakthroughs to fuel transformation

Established in 1991, Holiday Inn Express has consistently been a pioneer in the international upper-midscale hotel brand, continuously seizing market opportunities and playing a key role in the industry’s development. Since entering Greater China in 2004, Holiday Inn Express has leveraged its global vision and local expertise to achieve sustained growth through brand upgrades, product innovation, and a robust investment model—providing investors with steady and sustainable returns.

In 2016, staying attuned to industry dynamics, Holiday Inn Express introduced the innovative “Franchise Plus” model—an agile partnership mechanism that offers comprehensive support to owners. This move accelerated the brand’s expansion from first-tier cities to a nationwide presence. The brand strategically aligns its location planning with urban development, focusing on high-speed rail hubs and urban metro networks. As of now, Holiday Inn Express has 366 opening hotels across China, with an additional 214 in the pipeline.

Backed by IHG’s powerful business engine, Holiday Inn Express employs a dual-track sales strategy combining “global and local” approaches. By integrating global corporate client resources with local digital channels, the brand maximizes the synergy of its IHG One Rewards loyalty program and central reservation system. This boosts high-quality guest traffic to hotels and owners, optimizing revenue structures, enhancing operational efficiency, and reinforcing the brand’s competitive edge in the mid-to-upscale market.

The new Holiday Inn Express 5.0 model marks a significant milestone for the brand and reflects its journey in China IHG’s growth trajectory in China. Since entering the Greater China market over two decades ago, Holiday Inn Express has remained committed to a localized strategy while leveraging a global perspective and IHG’s strong system support, establishing itself as a key player in the upper -midscale field. We are focused not only on creating a high-quality product with our investors but also on driving innovation to deliver stable returns—striking the optimal balance between cost efficiency and guest experience. Mr. Kent Sun, Chief Development Officer, IHG Greater China

Looking ahead, the brand will focus on core cities and prime locations while strategically targeting transportation hubs, industrial parks, and cultural tourism destinations. By leveraging an efficient operational model and standardized product system, it aims to further deepen market penetration. With the 5.0 model as a starting point, the brand will capitalize on IHG’s global scale, mature operational framework, extensive loyalty network, and powerful business engine to strengthen partnerships and drive greater investment returns.