IHG is set to introduce its lifestyle brand in the French market. The operator chose Paris, and more specifically the Opera district, to launch the first Kampton hotel in the country.

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants will open its first French hotel in 2020, a stone's throw from Paris' iconic Opera Garnier. Designed by B&B Architects, the hotel will offer 149 rooms including 27 suites, a spa, fitness facilities, a business area and a rooftop terrace. Axa Investment Managers-Real Assets obtained a building permit to fully transform this 12,000m² mix-used building into a luxury hotel. Renovation work will start in 2017, led by Vinci Immobilier management.

Angela Brav, CEO of IHG Europe said: "Bringing Kimpton to Paris marks another milestone for expansion of the brand into Europe, and we're delighted to be working with AXA IM - Real Assets to bring Kimpton to France. This hotel will have one of the most coveted addresses in the city and is set to create unbelievable memories and experiences for guests - in the way that only Kimpton can."

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants was acquired by IHG in January 2015. This unit will be the second of the brand’s portfolio in Europe - the group recently announced the development of its first hotel outside the US, in Amsterdam. The brand now operates 59 hotels totaling 10,700 rooms. About 18 other properties are currently in development, with upcoming openings in Grand Cayman Island, but also in Bellevue (WA), Charlotte (NC), Tampa (FL), Tempe (AZ), Nashville (TN), Palm Springs and Sacramento (CA). Those hotels represent an additional 3,200 rooms tfor Kimpton Hotels. As of January 2016, IHG ranked as the 3rd hotel group worldwide in terms of number of rooms, according to data published by Hospitality ON. Its global portfolio comprised 5,032 hotels totaling 744,368 rooms.

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