IHG has signed a management agreement with Lotus Trans Travel Private Limited to establish four hotels in India under the Holiday Inn brand.

Slated to open between 2020 and 2023, Holiday Inn Bodhgaya, Holiday Inn Kushinagar, Holiday Inn Gorakhpur and Holiday Inn Shravasti together will add over 450 rooms to IHG’s system and establish the company’s presence on the Buddhist tourism circuit.

As part of the agreement, three of the hotels will be refurbished and upgraded, to ensure the portfolio is fully representative of the brand.

Sudeep Jain, Vice President, Development, South West Asia, IHG said: “This signing adds to the rapidly growing presence of our well-recognized Holiday Inn brand across the country […]. This presents a great opportunity for us, and we look forward to catering to the growing number of tourists, and the local demand for F&B and banqueting requirements.”

Karan Rai, Director, Lotus Trans Travel Private Limited, added: “We feel there is a need for quality branded accommodation in cities with immense travel potential such as Bodhgaya, Kushinagar, Gorakhpur and Shravasti, and are delighted to be partnering with IHG for our business in these markets.”

Best Western Hotels & Resorts has opened the first U.S. outpost of its new boutique hotel concept, Vīb, in Springfield, Missouri.

Targeted toward young professionals, the 92-room property touts tech-focused amenities like an electronics shop and gaming stations.

"Best Western has evolved significantly in recent years, expanding our portfolio from one brand to 11, to deliver the hotel offerings and unique experiences today's sophisticated travelers and developers expect," said Ron Pohl, SVP and COO, Best Western Hotels & Resorts. "The introduction of Vib was an integral part of Best Western's evolution, offering a boutique concept designed for the upscale hotel segment and filling a niche in today's competitive marketplace."

Additional Vīb properties are slated for development in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Los Angeles, San Diego, Staten Island, Pittsburgh and New Orleans. Best Western opened its first Vīb hotel in Antalya, Turkey, early last year.

G6 Hospitality, the parent company of Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands, announced Greg Juceam has been appointed President and Chief Operating Officer.  As part of the executive leadership team, he will report directly to CEO, Rob Palleschi.

Prior to joining the company, Greg Juceam served as CEO of BRE Hotels and Resorts, a non-listed real estate investment trust focused on the ownership of upscale, extended-stay and select service hotels.

Previously, he held senior roles at Interstate Hotels and Resorts, IHG, and Bristol Hotels & Resorts.