InterContinental Hotels Group’s (IHG) Voco brand has made its European debut in Cardiff following the rebrand of the Principal Hotel Cardiff.
The 142-bedroom Voco St David’s, Cardiff, is the second hotel to join IHG’s new upscale brand aimed at the leisure market, following the opening of the Voco Gold Coast in Australia earlier this month, just five months after the brand was launched.
General manager Russell Durnell said, “We are incredibly proud to be the first Voco in the UK and the second in the world. The team are thrilled to be bring this new brand and service culture to life in Cardiff.”
Karan Khanna, Managing Director UK & Ireland, said, “We launched the Voco brand in June so it is fantastic to see the brand already getting a foothold in the UK market. With a focus on conversion opportunities, Voco allows us to retain the existing charm of an independent hotel whilst also bringing the reassurance of a trusted brand, along with the power and strength of IHG’s systems.”
Three other hotels acquired from Starwood Capital Group – Oxford Thames, Oxford Spires and the Grand Central Glasgow – are all set to join Voco next year.
The new brand will drive significant incremental growth for IHG, with an expectation to open more than 200 voco hotels in attractive urban and leisure locations over the next 10 years.
IHG currently has 338 hotels operating under six brands in UK the including: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express, with another 34 in the pipeline.