Garner Reaches 100 Hotels as IHG Uses Conversions to Grow Faster

IHG Hotels & Resorts said that Garner has reached 100 open hotels globally, making it the fastest-scaling global brand in the company’s history.

The brand launched in August 2023, so the milestone shows how quickly IHG has expanded it. The company also said Garner has nearly 80 more hotels in the pipeline, indicating more openings are already on the way.

Garner is growing mainly through conversions, not new construction. Existing hotels are being rebranded and brought into IHG’s system faster and at a lower cost than building from the ground up. IHG said conversions made up 52 percent of its room openings in 2025.

Garner gives owners a lower-cost conversion model and a simpler value stay for guests

Garner is a midscale conversion brand, created for hotel owners who want to join a global chain without taking on the cost of a full redevelopment. IHG says the brand offers flexible standards, lower pre-opening costs, and a faster path to launch.

Garner is designed for travelers looking for an affordable stay with the basics done well. IHG says the brand focuses on comfortable beds, hot breakfast, quality service, and workspace options for guests mixing business and leisure travel.

Europe has driven early growth, but the brand is expanding wider

Much of Garner’s early growth came from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. IHG said the brand opened 43 hotels in that region in 2025, more than any other IHG brand there.

A major driver was the transition of an eventual 56 open and pipeline hotels in Germany through IHG’s agreement with NOVUM Hospitality. The brand also expanded into new markets in 2025, including Italy, Türkiye, the UK, Japan, Thailand, India, and Mexico. Garner will expand into Greater China later in 2026.

Hotel investment recovery is creating more room for brand conversions

This milestone also fits a broader investment story. US hotel transactions rose to $24 billion in 2025, signaling stronger investor interest in hospitality assets and more room for renovations, repositioning, and brand conversions.

That wider rebound helps explain why a brand like Garner is scaling so quickly: owners are looking for faster, lower-risk ways to improve existing properties and connect them to a major global system.

Photo by Francesca Saraco on Unsplash