IHG Hotels and Resorts is to add two US properties under its Voco brand in New Orleans and Olympia.
The two existing properties will be known as Voco St James Hotel New Orleans and Voco Olympia Hotel at Capitol Lake.
It’s not clear exactly when they will officially take on the Voco branding – at the moment they are being marketed on IHG’s website simply as The St James Hotel and Olympia Hotel at Capitol Lake.
The New Orleans property dates back to 1859, and is located in the city’s Banks Arcade downtown area. Features include the Chophouse New Orleans restaurant, with live music and courtyard seating.
Meanwhile the Olympia hotel was built in 1965 and is situated in 12 acres of woodland overlooking Capitol Lake. It is described as a “lodge-style hotel”, with features including a coffee bar, restaurant and swimming pool.
The Voco brand launched in 2018, and has around 20 properties open worldwide so far, with seven of these in the UK in locations including Oxford, Reading, Cardiff and Solihull.
Last year IHG announced plans to roll out the brand in the US, with The Franklin New York becoming the first property to join the collection in late 2020.
There are now over 50 Voco hotels either open or under development – this summer the group announced plans to reposition an existing hotel in downtown Chicago as a dual-branded Holiday Inn and Voco property.
IHG to open dual-branded Voco and Holiday Inn property in Chicago
Commenting on the news Julienne Smith, senior vice president, development, said:
“The Voco brand enhances already remarkable hotel properties, combining the strength of IHG while cultivating each hotel’s individual spirit and character.
“Both the Voco St James Hotel and the Voco Olympia Hotel are well-known landmark properties offering unique experiences to guests from around the world. Completely different in style and location, these are excellent illustrations of the flexibility of Voco.”
