Hotel Management Network

IHG partners with SM Group to open voco hotel in China

The new voco Xiamen SM city, which is set to open in 2025, will feature over 300 rooms.

IHG Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with SM Group, is set to introduce the first voco hotel in Fujian province, Greater China.

Planned to open in second half of 2025, the new voco Xiamen SM city hotel will be located within the SM Xiamen complex.

The strategic move aligns with the national development goals for Fujian and reinforces IHG's commitment to expanding its footprint in the southeastern markets of Greater China.

voco Xiamen SM city will feature more than 300 rooms and various facilities, including restaurants, event spaces, an indoor heated swimming pool, and a fitness centre.

Situated in Xiamen, voco aims to offer guests a distinctive and culturally rich experience, staying true to its ‘Come on in’ ethos and contributing to the enhancement of Fujian's cultural and tourism landscape.

IHG Greater China CEO Daniel Aylmer said: “With our local operational experience, we witness the exciting growth and potentials of the Fujian tourism industry and expect to offer high-quality travel and stay experience for guests with SM Group, and further boost Fujian's culture and tourism development.”

Launched by IHG in 2018, the voco brand has seen expansion worldwide, with 64 hotels in 25 countries and regions and an additional 80 properties in the pipeline.

The brand has made significant inroads in Greater China over the past four years, marking its presence in major cities and tourist hotspots such as Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Lianyungang.

SM Prime Holdings China projects vice-president Diane Dionisio said: “With the 30th anniversary of SM Prime Holdings’s listing, we signed with IHG for voco Xiamen SM city, marking a significant step in SM’s growth within Greater China's real estate sector.

“We are thrilled about our partnership, uniting IHG’s leading operational expertise with SM Group’s extensive 20-year market insight in Xiamen, to establish voco Xiamen SM city, the first SM hotel in China, as a distinguished hotel with exceptional standards, unique style, and impressive experience!”

Earlier this month, IHG unveiled the first voco hotel in India – voco Jim Corbett in the Dhilkuli region of Uttarakhand.

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