April 13: UK-based Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts Group (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with Nepal’s Shangri-La Hotel and Resort Group to develop four new hotels in Nepal.

As per the agreement, two of the new hotels will be based in Pokhara and one each in Kathmandu and Chitwan. According to a statement issued by IHG, the project includes Lazimpat-based InterContinental Kathmandu, Hotel Indigo Pokhara (Gharipatan), InterContinental Resort Pokhara (Begnas Lake), and InterContinental Resort Chitwan (Meghauli).

The signing will see IHG add close to 500 rooms to its portfolio in Nepal, and debut two of its global brands, InterContinental and Hotel Indigo in the market, IHG further said.

IHG said that the agreement has strengthened its footprint across the “South-West Asia region”, specifically in luxury and lifestyle segment. Currently under construction, the new hotels are scheduled to open in the next 1-4 years in the most sought-after leisure destinations of Nepal - Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan, added the statement.

“We are delighted to introduce two of our leading brands from the luxury and lifestyle portfolio, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and Hotel Indigo, to Nepal. The signing of four new hotels in partnership with the esteemed and well- known Shangri-La Hotel & Resort Group of Nepal is testament to the trust and love for our brands from our owners as well as guests, and we are proud to grow our footprint in the South-West Asia region to bring our offering to new markets,” said Sudeep Jain, managing director of IHG for South West Asia, adding, “The strategic location of all four hotels in different key tourism destinations of Nepal provide us with a great opportunity to offer world-class hospitality and cater to the demands of our guests.”

Likewise, Prasidha Pandey, chairman of Shangri-La Hotel and Resort Group, expressed his pleasure to partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts for the debut of the two renowned brands, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and Hotel Indigo, in Nepal.

“We are confident that our partnership with IHG to open four new hotels will help us offer world-class hospitality to guests, at a time when travel to Nepal has increased exponentially. All new hotels will be located in top tourism hubs, and we expect to benefit from the strength and scale of IHG’s global systems, technology and a strong loyalty programme,” said Pandey.

According to IHG, all four hotel guests will benefit from IHG’s best-in-class loyalty program, IHG One Rewards, which is centred around its guests – giving them richer benefits, all powered by leading technology and a new mobile app.

IHG currently has 47 hotels operating across five brands in South West Asia, including Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Resort and Holiday Inn Express, and has a strong pipeline of 53 hotels due to open in the next 2-3 years.