Inside IHG’s Plan to Rejuvenate Regent

Luxury Travel News

The Skift New Luxury column is our weekly column focused on the business of selling luxury travel, the people and companies creating and selling experiences, emerging trends, and the changing consumer habits around the sector.

When Keith Barr outlined his plans to seek out a luxury acquisition or two, the IHG CEO talked about specifics that the deal must have.

“We are very focused on the sweet spot of acquiring an asset-light, small luxury brand company or companies with a strong customer proposition [and] strong owner proposition that we can grow,” Barr told investors on an earnings call in February 2018.

Regent Hotels & Resorts certainly fit the bill. It was in need of a serious refresh, having passed through the hands of a number of owners over the years. IHG seems to have big plans for the brand and really believes it can compete with rivals such as Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, and Ritz-Carlton at the top end of the market.

For feedback or news tips, reach out via email at [email protected] or tweet me @paddywhyte.

— Patrick Whyte, Europe Editor

5 Looks at Luxury

Regent Wants to Reclaim Its Crown Under IHG: With new hotel brands popping up every day, it can be hard to establish name recognition among consumers. That’s one challenge IHG doesn’t have to deal with as it works to revive the Regent brand.

2019 Innovators in Hospitality and Travel: Summer Edition: Here are some of the most inspiring innovations in design, service, and guest experience in hospitality and travel so far this year. The more the industry can cross-pollinate, learn from others, and experiment, the better it will be.

Accor Finds Middle East Poses Unique Challenges After Acquisitions: If more than a month goes by without an acquisition or partnership announcement from Accor, does it even count? There are high expectations from the Middle East and Africa division in the wake of recent deals, especially from owners who may be anxious about potential disruptions.

What the Western Media Gets Wrong About Sri Lanka Tourism: The Western media jumped on a 57 percent drop in arrivals to Sri Lanka in June. That’s only half the story and one that could cause consumers to postpone visits. The destination is actually on the mend.

Travel Advisors Promote Aboriginal Tourism in Australia: For travel advisors looking for alternatives to overcrowded traditional destinations, Australia’s unique aboriginal experiences could fit right in. The country’s indigenous culture is now being strongly promoted through the efforts of Tourism Australia, state tourism promoters, and savvy local operators.

Subscribe

Skift Europe Editor Patrick Whyte [[email protected]] curates the New Luxury newsletter. Skift emails the newsletter every Tuesday.

Sign up for Skift’s New Luxury Newsletter