IHG poised to secure a slice of high-end market

Wow factors abound; from the picture-perfect harbor view rooms and intriguing gallery space in the lobby to the vibrant steakhouse and two-Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant as well as attentive service, all of which offer an illustration of IHG's philosophy of a luxury lifestyle that ensures a memorable stay for visitors.

"The personalization and the experience of emotion are so important for today's travelers," Aylmer said. "The basic level of having a great shower and a great bed is fine. But what you want is beyond that. It's being able to create the emotion with the consumer knowing everything is going to be okay, you're in control when you're staying in a Regent hotel or any luxury hotel with IHG, you're going to be able to relax."

In a sign of IHG's master plan to tap the potential of China's luxury lifestyle market, Regent Shanghai on the Bund will be reborn soon, with Regent Chengdu, Regent Sanya Haitang Bay and Regent Shenzhen all in the pipeline. These efforts, coupled with the introduction of Kimpton Hotels and Vignette Collection in gateway cities, are set to reap the benefits of splashing out on vacations and reconnections of business networks.

According to IHG's latest trading update, the group's revenue per available room — a key industry metric — in China jumped 43.2 percent in the third quarter compared to the same period in 2022. On a broader scope, the hotel group, which runs 19 brands globally, said it expects to close out the year with a "very strong" financial performance with China's returning to pre-pandemic levels.

In China, where IHG has raised its standing as one of the largest operators of luxury and lifestyle hotels, Aylmer shows every confidence in business growth, given the group's solid footprint over the decades and its understanding of the preferences of today's luxury consumers.

But it's not IHG's ambition to be "the largest", he said. "It is to be the best with each one of those brands to make sure that it relates to China consumers and is successful."