In a massive shift of names above the door, IHG, operator of a number of hotel brands including InterContinental, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Kimpton and Staybridge Suites, is losing management rights to 103 hotels which will now operate under the Sonesta name, more than doubling the Sonesta network.
The change is taking place because IHG defaulted on payments due to Service Properties Trust, the owner of the hotels. While it’s a small portion of the over five thousand hotels operated by IHG, it includes some significant properties, including the InterContinental in San Juan and Kimpton hotels in Washington, Chicago and Seattle. That will be felt by IHG loyalty members, who will no longer be able to book with points at those locations.
Service Properties owns 329 hotels as well as hundreds of travel plazas, movie theatres and other franchised businesses. Among its hotels, IHG was the second largest group, following 122 Hyatts and a sprinkling of Hyatts, Radissons and Wyndhams. Ironically, as recently as May, it planned to move Sonesta, which it has a 34% stake in, out of the suite hotel business; now it is adding 20 Staybridge Suites units to the chain.
The change-overs will take place in November. The switched hotels will operate under Sonesta, Royal Sonesta and Sonesta ES Suites.
Having nothing to do with the story, I’m well acquainted with the Intercontinental in San Juan, my husband & I having met while both working there in the ’60s to early ’70s when it was Larry & Bob Tisch’s Americana. Wonderful beach.