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.

Piemonte's hospitality sector, anchored by Turin's industrial heritage and proximity to the Alps, has benefited from similar chain expansion in recent years. Turin's position as a gateway to the Aosta Valley and the western Alpine passes makes it a natural fit for both business travel linked to the automotive and aerospace sectors and leisure tourism. The regional market has seen steady growth in branded hotel development as international operators recognize the stability of Italy's tourism recovery and the diversification of travel motivations beyond traditional sun-and-culture destinations.

IHG's expansion reflects a broader pattern among major European hospitality groups: confidence in Italy's long-term tourism appeal despite macroeconomic uncertainties and seasonal volatility. The chain's focus on Milan as a primary hub, with spillover into secondary cities and resort areas, mirrors strategies adopted by competitors. Skift reported on Wednesday that the European heatwave is disrupting tourism across the continent, with train cancellations and attractions like the Eiffel Tower facing operational stress. However, the heatwave's impact on summer bookings remains unclear from the available wire reporting; IHG's signings predate the most intense heat and may reflect decisions made before the current crisis intensified.