Holiday Inn Express launches 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.

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