IHG’s Avid Hotel Brand Reaches Milestone With 50th Property Opening

As IHG’s fastest-growing, new-build model and second quickest rising model general, avid is rapidly making a reputation for itself in hospitality. Its “good” focus appeals to friends in search of worth, but additionally to resort house owners that need an environment friendly and worthwhile model companion.

The primary property opened in 2018 in Oklahoma Metropolis, and the sturdy development technique fared effectively with friends throughout the Covid-19 pandemic as IHG launched its Clear Promise normal. With leaner staffing fashions and a decrease value to enter the market, avid proved standard with resort builders, too.

Karen Gilbride, vice chairman of avid accommodations and Atwell Suites, shares an replace because the model reaches its 50^th resort opening milestone, the avid hotel Ft. Lauderdale Airport – Cruise, with no indicators of slowing down.

From the first to the fiftieth resort, what changes have been made out of proprietor and visitor suggestions?

We designed avid accommodations to ship the necessities exceptionally effectively at a good worth. Visitor satisfaction scores have been constantly robust for the reason that model launched so we’ve got not modified the core proposition in any respect from the primary avid resort in Oklahoma Metropolis to the 50^th avid resort in Ft. Lauderdale. This consists of rooms outfitted with the newest expertise and designed for sound sleep.

Nonetheless, we’re always listening to proprietor and visitor suggestions and have made enhancements to the breakfast menu, including rotating sizzling, seize and go choices, which friends admire.  

Is the model nonetheless planning worldwide enlargement?

Presently, we’re centered on the continued development of the avid model within the US, Canada, and Mexico, with plans to broaden past North America as alternatives come up. We lately opened the second avid resort in Mexico (in Tijuana-Otay), and we’re very excited for the opening of the primary avid resort in Canada later this yr (in Vaughan close to Toronto). 

What number of accommodations are within the pipeline now?

There are greater than 165 avid accommodations within the pipeline, together with 15 underneath building and greater than 90 with plans permitted or submitted. With 24 model new properties opened in 2021, avid accommodations was IHG’s fastest-growing new-build model and second solely to Vacation Inn Specific for complete resort development throughout the IHG portfolio. 

How do you use accommodations with such a lean operation and fewer employees?

We designed avid accommodations to be easy to construct, easy to open, and easy to function. Employees members are cross-trained to carry out a number of roles, and avid has a decrease staffing mannequin than different equally sized accommodations by design. For instance, our rooms are designed to be environment friendly to scrub with out compromising cleanliness. Furnishings sits off the ground the place doable so room attendants can simply get to all surfaces.

Have you ever made tweaks to the breakfast buffet since launching?

Our Good all-round seize and go breakfast that includes acquainted, name-brand gadgets is a crucial a part of the avid accommodations model proposition. Since launching the model, we’ve got added a rotating sizzling merchandise, akin to a meat, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich, and we’re always evaluating alternatives to introduce new gadgets.

Are you contemplating a dual-branded property technique?

Avid accommodations launched a dual-brand prototype with Candlewood Suites final yr for choose markets, the place we mix two manufacturers that serve complementary demand segments inside one footprint. House owners have responded effectively, and we’ve got seen a number of signings since launch. Our first dual-brand property at the moment underneath building is an avid resort and Vacation Inn in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, and is predicted to open later this yr.