InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is buying Six Senses Hotels, Resorts and Spas for $300 million. The luxury chain based in Thailand has 17 luxury resorts around the world, as well as high-end spas, and they have contracts to open 18 more and discussions for 50. IHG is planning to expand to 60 Six Senses resorts over the next 10 years. This is a welcome acquisition to the group and will add nicely to the luxury brands Regent, InterContinental and Kimpton already in the portfolio.
IHG is one of the largest hotel companies in the world with more than 5,000 hotels. The majority are mid-scale hotels like the Holiday Inn Express or Holiday Inn brands that make up 85% of the properties, but the flagship InterContinental brand also has around 200 hotels worldwide and IHG acquired the hip Kimpton brand as well as the traditional luxury brand Regent (see the IHG Facts & Figures for more).
But with Marriott acquiring Starwood and with Accor on a buying spree, IHG’s luxury offering started to look a little thin and this acquisition adds some very high-end properties. For example the Six Senses Con Dao Resort in Vietnam looks fantastic and starts at around $650/night.
Other Six Senses properties in Thailand or Bhutan look just as spectacular – with prices just as eye-watering.
While these hotels might not appeal to every budget, they are an exciting option in the IHG portfolio. And, hopefully, through participation in the IHG Rewards Club loyalty program, there will be an option to stay at these resorts using points earned with frequent stays at those Holiday Inn Express or InterContinental hotels!
I frequently stay at mid-scale hotels, but will splurge for special occasions with the love of my life at high-end luxury hotels, so I welcome this addition, even if those stays are few. Until then, I’ll enjoy the photos of these spectacular resorts!
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H/T: BusinessTraveler