InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a management agreement to bring the Crowne Plaza brand to Lucknow, India.

“We are announcing this signing at a time when India’s hospitality industry is facing the biggest challenge in its history following the global outbreak of Covid-19. We are currently focused on doing everything we can to protect the health and well being of our guests and our colleagues, with one eye firmly on recovery,” said Sudeep Jain, managing director of South West Asia, IHG in a statement posted on the company’s website.

The 110-room property is slated to open in 2024. The hotel company said the new property will have an “array of food and beverage options” including an all-day dining restaurant, a bar and a club lounge. It will also have  meeting and banqueting space of approximately 19,000 square feet. Other facilities include a gymnasium and an outdoor pool.

IHG said the hotel will be directly accessible from the Lucknow-Sultanpur road, the “newly developing” areas next to Shahid Path, as well as “the new” cricket stadium. It is located approximately 11 kilometres from the city centre (Hazratganj) and 15 kilometres from Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport and “is close to the area being promoted by the government as a prospective IT hub”.

Pascal Gauvin, managing director, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG said: “We are pleased to be bringing our international brand, Crowne Plaza to Lucknow. The tourism landscape in the city has grown over the years, and we are confident that it will continue to evolve in the mid-long term as Lucknow becomes an attractive destination for travellers looking to experience the city’s rich culture and history as well as new modern developments.”

“The signing underscores confidence in the industry despite challenging times. In India, the sector is primarily driven by the domestic travel, which is expected to recover first once the crisis is behind us and it is safe to travel again,” he added.

IHG has 36 hotels in India and 42 in the pipeline.

ihg.com