![](\"https:\/\/www.travelweekly.com\/uploadedImages\/Art\/2021\/0816\/T0816IHGLOGO.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIHG says it plans to add a new hotel brand to its portfolio in the coming weeks in the lifestyle and luxury segment.<\/p>\n
The new brand aims to tap into growing demand in the luxury and lifestyle space, according to IHG, with independent hotels keen to sign up after struggling through the pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
IHG, which says it is already strong in luxury and lifestyle with almost 450 properties, will grow the new brand organically rather than through acquisition. IHG’s luxury\/lifestyle brands are InterContinental, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo, Six Senses, Regent and Voco.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Reporting second-quarter results for the three-month period ending June 30, 2021, IHG revealed occupancy of 53%. Occupancy in June stood at 69% for its U.S. properties, 54% in China and 40% in the EMEA region.<\/p>\n
The operating profit for the group, whose brands include Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, came in at $138 million for the half year, up from 2020’s loss of $233 million. Revenue was reported as $1.18 billion, down from $1.25 billion for the first half of 2020.<\/p>\n
While the recovery is dominated by domestic leisure travel, the company says groups, meetings and events are beginning to book again but a question remains over the degree of discretionary business travel booking in the third and fourth quarters as well as into 2022.<\/p>\n
Keith Barr, chief executive of IHG, says: “Trading improved significantly during the first half of 2021, with travel demand returning strongly as vaccines roll out, restrictions ease and economic activity rebuilds. Essential business travel was a key element of our resilience throughout the pandemic, and we are now seeing more group activity and corporate bookings start to come back.”<\/p>\n