IHG Hotels & Resorts is set to expand its premium portfolio in India with the announcement that its voco brand will make a debut in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh. The 135 room property, to be known as voco Lucknow, is being developed under a management agreement with Rajdeep Infra & Sales Pvt Ltd and is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2029.

The signing underscores the city’s growing appeal as a hub for business, government, education and culture, and further strengthens IHG’s long term bet on India as one of its most important growth markets.

Future voco Lucknow hotel illuminated at dusk in Ashiyana, Lucknow, India.

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Ashiyana location positions voco Lucknow as a premium urban hub

The new voco Lucknow will rise in Ashiyana, a fast developing and well regarded neighbourhood in the southern part of the city. The area has become one of Lucknow’s most sought after residential and commercial pockets, drawing middle class and affluent residents while also attracting retail, dining and office developments.

For travellers, Ashiyana offers strong connectivity to the rest of Lucknow. The site is planned within a short drive of Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, which serves as the primary gateway to the city for domestic and a growing number of international routes. Key arterial roads linking Ashiyana to central business districts and government offices are expected to support both corporate and leisure demand for the new hotel.

The choice of location also reflects how hotel operators are increasingly looking beyond traditional central business districts in Indian cities. By anchoring the voco flag in a high growth suburban corridor that already has housing, retail and transport infrastructure in place, IHG and its development partner aim to capture both transient guests and the rising local market for social events, dining and staycations.

Inside voco Lucknow: a 135 room premium property

While detailed design schematics have not yet been released, the signing confirms that voco Lucknow will feature 135 guest rooms, placing it in the mid sized, full service category that is typical of voco hotels worldwide. The brand’s positioning focuses on a relaxed but upscale atmosphere, blending the individuality of a one off property with the consistency and systems of a major global chain.

In line with the brand’s global hallmarks, voco Lucknow is expected to highlight three experiential pillars: a warm arrival and social lobby experience, generous “me time” in rooms with quality bedding and amenities, and lively public spaces where guests can eat, drink and gather. In practice, this usually translates into vibrant interior design, thoughtfully designed rooms and a strong emphasis on food and beverage venues that appeal to both hotel guests and local residents.

As a premium hotel, voco Lucknow is also likely to include flexible meeting and event spaces aimed at corporate gatherings, small conferences, weddings and social functions. Fitness facilities and potentially a spa or pool would align with the expectations of domestic and international travellers in this segment, although specific facility details have not yet been confirmed at the signing stage.

Why IHG is betting on Lucknow’s growth story

IHG’s decision to bring one of its fastest growing premium brands to Lucknow speaks to the city’s changing economic profile. As the administrative capital of India’s most populous state, Lucknow has long been a centre for government, education and culture. Over the past decade, however, it has also been steadily building credentials as a regional business and services hub, supported by improved highways, expanding air connectivity and investment in industrial and technology corridors.

Rising disposable incomes and a growing middle class across Uttar Pradesh have helped fuel demand for quality hospitality products, from branded midscale hotels to premium and luxury offerings. Domestic tourism to Lucknow’s historic monuments, culinary scene and cultural festivals has also grown, complementing business and government related travel. For global operators such as IHG, these trends point to a multi segment opportunity where multiple brands can coexist and cater to different price points and trip purposes.

The long lead time to a 2029 opening is in line with typical development cycles for sizeable urban hotels in India, which often involve detailed planning approvals, construction timelines and coordination with infrastructure upgrades in the surrounding area. By securing the agreement now, IHG is effectively reserving a stake in Lucknow’s future demand curve, positioning itself to benefit as the city’s visitor numbers and spending power expand over the coming years.

Strengthening an existing IHG cluster in the city

The arrival of voco will not be IHG’s first exposure to the Lucknow market. The company already operates a Holiday Inn and a Crowne Plaza in the city, giving it a presence in both the mainstream and premium segments. The opening of Crowne Plaza Lucknow in 2025 marked a symbolic milestone as IHG’s 50th operational hotel in India, underlining the importance of the city in the group’s national network.

With voco Lucknow, IHG will effectively create a three brand cluster strategy in the destination. Holiday Inn serves core business and leisure travellers seeking reliable midscale accommodation, Crowne Plaza targets meetings led and higher end business travel, and voco is positioned as a contemporary, characterful premium option that appeals to style conscious guests and modern corporate travellers.

Operating multiple brands in one city allows IHG to leverage shared sales, marketing and loyalty platforms while tailoring each hotel’s personality and pricing to specific demand pockets. It also enables the company to offer corporate accounts and travel partners a range of choices within the same ecosystem, supported by the IHG One Rewards loyalty programme that spans its global portfolio.

voco’s growing footprint in India and worldwide

Globally launched in 2018, voco has quickly grown into one of IHG’s fastest expanding premium brands, particularly in conversion friendly markets where existing properties can be rebranded and brought into the IHG system. In India, voco made its debut with a signing in Jim Corbett, where a resort was earmarked for conversion into the country’s first voco property. Since then, the brand has added signings in key cities and leisure destinations such as Srinagar, Goa, Gurugram, Mumbai and Amritsar, along with the first opening near Jim Corbett National Park.

The brand’s appeal lies partly in its flexible model, which allows owners to retain some of the individuality of their asset while tapping into IHG’s distribution, technology, design guidance and operational standards. For IHG, voco fills a gap between traditional, business focused premium brands and more rigid upscale offerings, enabling it to capture travellers who seek a sense of place and personality without sacrificing comfort and reliability.

Within India, voco is emerging as a key pillar of IHG’s broader strategy to deepen its presence across the luxury, premium and mainstream segments. Alongside voco, the group is rolling out brands such as InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Six Senses, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and the newer conversion led Garner. The company has publicly outlined ambitions to scale its Indian portfolio to more than 400 open and pipeline hotels over the next five years, signalling sustained confidence in the market’s long term fundamentals.

Owner partnership and investment outlook

The Lucknow project is being developed in partnership with Rajdeep Infra & Sales Pvt Ltd, a regional player that is turning to IHG for brand, management and systems support. For domestic developers, aligning with an international chain can help de risk large hospitality investments by broadening the demand base, plugging into global sales channels and accessing tested operating procedures.

From IHG’s perspective, the partnership model supports asset light growth. The company typically focuses on brand development, marketing and management, while local partners undertake the capital intensive task of building and owning the physical property. This approach has been central to its expansion across India, where a mix of greenfield developments and conversions has driven record signings in recent years.

Lucknow’s hotel investment climate has been buoyed by state level infrastructure projects, improvements in air and road connectivity and initiatives aimed at boosting tourism and conferences. With competition from other global chains including Marriott, Hyatt and Hilton intensifying in northern India, the addition of a voco branded property helps ensure that IHG remains visible and competitive in one of the region’s most closely watched Tier 1.5 to Tier 2 markets.

Implications for travellers and Lucknow’s tourism landscape

For travellers, the entry of voco into Lucknow will mean an expanded range of branded accommodation options at the premium end of the market. Business visitors linked to government departments, corporate offices, start ups and educational institutions will have another international standard hotel to choose from, potentially located closer to residential enclaves and new commercial nodes than existing central city properties.

The hotel is also poised to play a role in Lucknow’s social and cultural calendar. Premium hotels in Indian cities frequently act as venues for weddings, festivals, corporate launches and community events, and voco’s brand ethos typically emphasises lively public spaces and distinctive food and beverage experiences. That in turn can stimulate local employment, vendor networks and ancillary services such as event management and transport.

At a citywide level, the addition of a branded premium hotel strengthens Lucknow’s pitch as a destination capable of hosting larger conferences, exhibitions and delegations. When viewed alongside the existing Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, and future projects announced by other operators, voco Lucknow contributes to a more robust hospitality ecosystem that can support Uttar Pradesh’s ambitions in sectors such as tourism, investment promotion and cultural diplomacy.

FAQ

Q1. What exactly has IHG announced regarding voco in Lucknow?
IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced that it has signed a management agreement with Rajdeep Infra & Sales Pvt Ltd to develop a 135 room voco branded hotel in Lucknow, to be called voco Lucknow, which is planned to open in the third quarter of 2029.

Q2. Where will voco Lucknow be located within the city?
The hotel is planned for the Ashiyana area of Lucknow, a well connected neighbourhood in the southern part of the city that offers good access to major roads and is a short drive from Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport.

Q3. How many rooms will the new hotel have and what segment will it target?
voco Lucknow will feature 135 guest rooms and is positioned in the premium, full service segment, aimed at business and leisure travellers seeking an upscale yet relaxed stay experience.

Q4. When is voco Lucknow expected to open to guests?
The hotel is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2029, subject to the usual development, construction and regulatory timelines associated with a project of this scale.

Q5. Is this IHG’s first hotel in Lucknow?
No. IHG already operates a Holiday Inn and a Crowne Plaza in Lucknow. The Crowne Plaza, opened in 2025, marked the company’s 50th hotel in India. voco Lucknow will be the third IHG property in the city and the first under the voco brand.

Q6. What distinguishes the voco brand from other IHG brands?
voco is a premium brand designed to blend the informality and character of an individual hotel with the reliability of a global chain. It typically focuses on warm, inviting public spaces, comfortable rooms with quality amenities and an emphasis on local touches in design and food and beverage.

Q7. Why is Lucknow considered an attractive market for a brand like voco?
Lucknow is the capital of India’s most populous state and a key centre for government, business, education and culture. Rising domestic travel, improving infrastructure and a growing middle class have created demand for more branded premium hotels, making the city a strong fit for voco’s contemporary positioning.

Q8. Who is the local partner behind the development of voco Lucknow?
The hotel is being developed by Rajdeep Infra & Sales Pvt Ltd, which has entered into a management agreement with IHG. Under this model, the local partner typically owns the asset while IHG provides the brand, management expertise and access to its global systems.

Q9. How does voco Lucknow fit into IHG’s broader India expansion strategy?
voco Lucknow is part of a wider push by IHG to scale its presence across India, where it currently operates more than 50 hotels and has a substantial pipeline. The company has outlined plans to surpass 400 open and pipeline hotels in the country within about five years, with premium brands such as voco and Crowne Plaza playing a central role.

Q10. What can future guests reasonably expect when staying at voco Lucknow?
Guests can expect an international standard premium hotel experience, likely including stylish, well equipped rooms, vibrant public spaces, at least one or more restaurants and bars, meeting and event facilities, and amenities such as a fitness centre. The property is also expected to reflect voco’s brand focus on friendly service, relaxed sophistication and touches of local character.