IHG surpasses 50 properties in Italy as hospitality chains bet on recovery

InterContinental Hotels Group has signed four new hotels in Italy, bringing its total open and pipeline properties in the country to over 50 as of 31 March 2026, according to Hotel News Resource on Thursday. The expansion includes Crowne Plaza and Staybridge Suites properties in Milan's NoLo district, signalling renewed confidence in the Italian hospitality market amid a broader recovery in European tourism after years of pandemic disruption.

The signings come as international hospitality chains continue to expand across Italy's major urban centres and tourism destinations. Milan, as the country's financial and fashion capital, has become the primary hub for chain growth, with the NoLo neighbourhood—a newly gentrified area north of the city centre—emerging as a focus for mid-range and extended-stay properties. Hotel News Resource's reporting indicates that IHG's strategy targets both leisure and business travel segments, with Staybridge Suites positioning itself for longer-stay guests and Crowne Plaza addressing the upper-mid-market segment.