Dive Brief:

• IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Americas RevPAR rose 5.4% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, following a 3.6% gain in the first quarter, partially driven by the FIFA World Cup and a “stronger U.S. economy,” according to a Tuesday earnings report. Despite ongoing conflict in the Middle East, global RevPAR was up 3.5% year over year in Q2. 
• IHG also touted record development activity in its latest earnings report, opening 197 hotels in the first half of 2026, up 8% year over year, when excluding the company’s 2025 acquisition of the Ruby brand.
• IHG did not significantly adjust its full-year earnings expectations and is on track to meet profit and earnings expectations announced earlier this year, IHG CFO Michael Glover said on a Tuesday earnings call. CEO Elie Maalouf said on the call that he is “confident” in the “economic momentum” driving U.S. RevPAR growth, which include “underlying factors” such as rising household wealth and resilient consumer spending. 

Dive Insight:

IHG’s H1 performance “reflects the strength and resilience of our diversified business model,” while a “favorable macro backdrop” is continuing to support travel demand in most parts of the world, Maalouf said on the call. 

Glover noted that the World Cup added approximately 100 basis points to the Americas Q2 RevPAR growth, also bolstered by “supportive trading conditions from a strong U.S. economy.” IHG competitor Hilton also reported U.S. RevPAR growth in Q2 due in part to a “boost from the World Cup.”

In addition to RevPAR gains, the Holiday Inn owner touted record levels of development activity in H1, underscored by a strong number of signings in the first half. IHG signed 352 hotels, or 49,200 rooms, in H1 — representing an 8% uptick year over year. In the Americas, specifically, IHG signed 12,500 rooms in the first half of the year.  

Furthermore, conversions continued to drive growth for IHG, representing 43% of openings and 49% of signings in the first half, according to the report. Maalouf pointed out that newer brands, including Noted Collection, are “scaling at pace” and accounted for one-third of conversion signings in the first half with “substantial runway for growth ahead.”

Maalouf also noted that IHG’s “franchise-friendly” Ruby brand now has 42 hotels open, up from 30 hotels when it was first acquired. 

The company also highlighted rollout plans for its cloud-based property management system, which it expects to be installed in 4,000 hotels by the end of the year, per Maalouf. 

Speaking on its approach to artificial intelligence, Maalouf said IHG organizes its efforts into three distinct areas: guest acquisition and loyalty; hotel performance; and corporate efficiency and innovation. 

This summer, IHG launched an app in ChatGPT, giving users access to real-time hotel information and connecting them to its booking channels, as well as debuted an AI-powered conversational search tool on its website and mobile app. The company said it is currently piloting a new cloud-based customer relationship management platform to engage more with guests and deliver more personalized experiences.

Together, these AI capabilities will make it easier for guests to discover the right hotel, experience memorable stays and deepen loyalty, while creating greater value for hotel owners, Maalouf said.