Double luxury and lifestyle signing in Greece for IHG Hotels & Resorts

IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, announces the signing of two properties on the island of Crete, Greece - The Chania Hotel Crete, Vignette Collection and Kimpton La Mer Crete. Both properties, owned by Gelasakis Group, mark brand debuts in the country and are expected to open in 2025 and 2026 respectively. The latest additions will see three IHG brands represented on the island of Crete, following in the footsteps of InterContinental Crete which opened in 2024.

Nestled in the Chania city centre, close to the port and market, The Chania Hotel Crete, Vignette Collection will deliver one-of-a-kind and memorable experiences alongside a commitment to more responsible travel. Featuring 39 guestrooms, several food and beverage options, including a rooftop bar and an a la carte restaurant, guests will also enjoy the use of a wellness centre, complete with a rooftop heated plunge pool.

Located on the beachfront halfway between picturesque Chania and historic Rethymno, Kimpton La Mer Crete is set to deliver a world-class luxury beach resort experience. Only 20-minutes from Chania Airport, the hotel will feature 76 guestrooms, two distinctive restaurant offerings and a state-of-the-art spa centre, featuring a seaside indoor pool. Guests will also have direct access to the scenic Georgioupolis beach, overlooking the Gulf of Chania. 

(Mrs) Willemijn Geels, Vice President, Development, Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “We are delighted to debut two of our luxury and lifestyle brands in Greece alongside our new partners at Gelasakis Group. Chania is emerging as one of the most sought-after Greek destinations for high end travellers and the addition of Vignette Collection and Kimpton to our existing InterContinental properties and pipeline Six Senses Megalonisos in Greece, will further cement our luxury and lifestyle portfolio in the country.
“Our luxury and lifestyle portfolio has grown significantly in recent years, now totalling over 900 open and pipeline hotels globally, all of which are underpinned by our powerful global enterprise systems. Our continued growth is thanks to the increasing consumer appetite for our brands in key destinations and growing trust from our owners in our expertise and reputation. I look forward to visiting both properties and welcoming guests to this magnificent location.”

(Mr) Antonis Gelasakis, CEO Travel & Hospitality Divisions, Gelasakis Group, said: “With its ancient ruins, blue skies and never-ending coastline, Greece continues to be a leading tourist destination in Europe, attracting travellers from around the world. Consequently, we are excited to be partnering with IHG Hotels & Resorts to bring two of their world-renowned brands to the country and provide guests with two different luxury and lifestyle offerings. We believe IHG’s existing in-market experience and global enterprise will be invaluable in helping to drive performance and deliver high returns across both properties.”

Vignette Collection is IHG’s first collection brand and represents a curation of distinct hotels, demonstrating diversity and discovery. Vignette Collection combines each property’s individual identity with the brand’s promise of ‘A Means for Good’ and Memorable Rituals. No two stays are the same at any Vignette Collection hotel around the world, allowing guests to experience the unique story of each hotel.

Vignette Collection has achieved more than half of its 10-year target of 100 hotels opening or in the pipeline worldwide within a three-year period, currently with 20 hotels open worldwide, and a further 35 hotels in the pipeline. The brand provides a compelling way for owners of independent hotels to benefit from IHG’s powerful enterprise offering and global scale, while enabling guests to book one-of-a-kind stays with all the benefits of the IHG One Rewards programme.

Founded in 1981 by visionary hotelier Bill Kimpton, Kimpton pioneered the concept of unique, distinctive, design-forward hotels in the United States. Inspired by his travels to Europe, Bill Kimpton saw an opportunity in the U.S. for a hotel experience that was more than a place to stay, but rather a place to experience, feel a sense of belonging and explore. The lifestyle luxury Kimpton brand is designed to merge a culture of human hospitality and unique, design-forward hotels for all.

The hotels join IHG’s leading luxury and lifestyle portfolio, which has grown significantly in recent years to six brands, over 530 open hotels and a pipeline of more than 370 properties.

IHG Hotels & Resorts has five open properties in Greece – InterContinental Crete, Crowne Plaza Athens - City Centre, InterContinental Athenaeum Athens, Holiday Inn Athens – Airport and Holiday Inn Thessaloniki - as well as two Six Senses resorts under development – outlining IHG’s strong and growing luxury footprint in the market.

*Numbers as of 31 December 2024

About IHG®

IHG Hotels & Resorts (tickers: LON:IHG for Ordinary Shares; NYSE: IHG for ADRs) is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.

With a family of 20 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programmes with over 145 million members, IHG has more than 6,600 open hotels in over 100 countries, and a development pipeline of over 2,200 properties.

• Luxury & Lifestyle: Six Senses, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo
• Premium: voco hotels, Ruby, HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, EVEN Hotels
• Essentials: Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Garner hotels, avid hotels
• Suites: Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Candlewood Suites
• Exclusive Partners: Iberostar Beachfront Resorts

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 385,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally.

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Vignette Collection is IHG’s first collection brand and newest addition to its luxury and lifestyle portfolio. It represents a fast-growing family of unique properties each offering one-of-a-kind stays in destinations to remember. Collectively different and proudly independent, Vignette Collection hotels share the vision to harness travel’s ability to benefit local people and places weaving responsibility, community, and locality together.

In just three years since its launch, the brand has surpassed the halfway point in its initial aim to reach 100 hotels in the first 10 years. Vignette Collection was launched in 2021 offering owners of world-class independent hotels the ability to benefit from IHG’s powerful enterprise offering and global scale whilst retaining their hotel’s unique character, style, and name. Today, there are 20 open hotels across 12 countries globally and a further 35 properties in the pipeline.

For more information, visit www.vignettecollectionhotels.com

Kimpton, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio, is the original boutique hotel brand, which pioneered the concept of unique, distinctive, design-forward hotels in the United States in 1981. Anchored in one-of-a-kind experiences, the San Francisco-born brand now operates more than 75 hotels and over 100 restaurants, bars and lounges across urban locations, resort destinations and up-and-coming markets globally. From inspiring design to forward-thinking flavors that feed the soul, Kimpton spaces and experiences center on its guests. Every detail is thoughtfully curated and artfully delivered so that guest experiences remain meaningful, unscripted and inspired.

For more information, visit www.kimptonhotels.com.