IHG has announced the launch of its new upscale hotel brand, voco

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Inspired by the meaning ‘to invite’ or to ‘come together’ in Latin, voco will combine the informality and charm of an individual hotel, with the quality and reassurance of a global and respected brand. According to the company, by working with high-quality individual and locally-branded hotels, this distinctive brand will offer owners the ability to drive higher returns through delivering a compelling guest experience and leveraging IHG’s powerful systems.

The company plans to roll-out voco beginning in IHG’s Europe, Middle East, Asia & Africa (EMEAA) region, with plans to take it to the Americas and Greater China over time. The new brand will drive significant incremental growth for IHG, with an expectation to open more than 200 voco hotels in attractive urban and leisure locations over the next 10 years, as per the company.

IHG has confirmed the first signing for the voco brand outside of Europe will be the Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise, Australia. The 388-room hotel is located at the heart of Surfers Paradise, a few steps away from the beach, and offers guests two swimming pools and 800sqm of meeting space. The property is shortly to be acquired by IHG’s long-standing partner, SB&G, which currently owns five other IHG hotels in Australia. The hotel is expected to open under the voco flag in late 2018.

Keith Barr, Chief Executive Officer, IHG, commented: “We’ve talked about the significant growth opportunity we see for IHG in upscale and voco will help us deliver against this. We’ll work with owners of attractive properties, who appreciate the power and expertise that a global business can bring to the table. Guests will be able to enjoy the appeal of a more individual hotel, alongside the reassurance of a name above the door that they trust. The versatility of the brand, means a voco hotel can retain and celebrate all of the elements that make that existing hotel successful.”

IHG is one of the largest hotel companies with more than 5,000 hotels worldwide. Brands owned by the company include Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn and many more. IHG presently manages Holiday Inn Kandooma Resort and Spa in the Maldives. The company also previously ran the Holiday Inn Hotel in Malé City.

Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma, located in South Malé Atoll, is famous for its facilities which cater to various types of travellers, be it families, friends, couples, surfers, divers, or nature lovers. It’s only a 45-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]