Two years after it exited from Nepal, IHG Hotels & Resorts, the British multinational hospitality company, is again entering the country with a larger presence. This time, IHG has tied up with Shangri-La Hotel and Resort Group, one of Nepal's leading hospitality groups, with a management agreement to develop four new hotel properties in Nepal. Earlier, IHG was in a management partnership with the five-star Soaltee Hotel that ended in May 2021. The new hotels under the partnership with Shangri-La Group are InterContinental Kathmandu, Lazimpat, Hotel Indigo Pokhara, Gharipatan, InterContinental Resort Pokhara, Begnas Lake, and InterContinental Resort Chitwan, Meghauli. The agreement will see IHG adding close to 500 rooms to its portfolio in Nepal. Two of IHG's global brands, InterContinental and Hotel Indigo will also make their debut in the Nepali market. Currently under construction, the new hotels are scheduled to open in the next 1-4 years. According to Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, the strategic location of all four hotels in different key tourism destinations of Nepal provides IHG with a great opportunity to offer world-class hospitality. “We are delighted to introduce two of our leading brands from the luxury and lifestyle portfolio, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and Hotel Indigo, to Nepal," said Jain.

Prasidha B. Panday, Chairman of Shangri-La Hotel & Resort Group said that partnership with IHG to open four new hotels will help to offer world-class hospitality to guests at a time when travel to Nepal has increased exponentially. "All new hotels will be located in top tourism hubs, and we expect to benefit from the strength and scale of IHG’s global systems, technology, and a strong loyalty program,” said Panday.

InterContinental Kathmandu Lazimpat will be redeveloped on the same site as Shangri-la Kathmandu Hotel, which is one of the iconic hotels of Nepal. The Hotel Indigo Pokhara is located in Pokhara’s Gharipatan area and features 100-rooms The InterContinental Pokhara Begnas Lake is an 80 rooms hotel. Similarly, the InterContinental Resort Chitwan is located in the popular tourist destination of Mehgauli. The resort will feature 80 rooms. Of late, the IHG Group is expanding its presence in Nepal. In March 2021, the group signed a management agreement with the Swornim Hotel Pokhara Pvt. Ltd. to develop the Holiday Inn Express Pokhara Lakeside.