Who is the Owner of Crowne Plaza?

Crowne Plaza is a globally recognised upscale hotel brand that operates hundreds of full-service hotels across major cities, resort destinations, coastal towns, and airport hubs around the world. The brand focuses on serving business and leisure travellers with well-equipped facilities for meetings, comfort, and productivity. It is part of the IHG Hotels & Resorts family of brands.

Founded in 1983 as Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, the brand was launched to cater to business travellers seeking elevated services beyond standard hotel offerings. Over time, it established its own identity and became known simply as Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts. Today, the brand operates over 400 hotels in nearly 100 countries, offering consistently high-quality hospitality experiences globally.

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Ownership Status of Crowne Plaza

Crowne Plaza is owned by InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG Hotels & Resorts).

IHG Hotels & Resorts is a British multinational hospitality company headquartered in Windsor, Berkshire, England. It is publicly traded and one of the world’s largest hotel companies, boasting a portfolio of well-known brands, including:

• InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
• Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts
• Holiday Inn & Holiday Inn Express
• Staybridge Suites
• Candlewood Suites
• Hotel Indigo (and more)

The Crowne Plaza brand functions as one of several distinct hotel brands under the IHG umbrella. The parent company owns the brand and is responsible for its global standards, marketing, and overall strategic direction. However, the individual Crowne Plaza hotel properties are often owned, leased, or operated by third-party investors, property owners, or franchisees under agreements with IHG.

How Ownership Works in Practice

While IHG owns the brand and intellectual property, many Crowne Plaza properties around the world are not directly owned by IHG itself. Instead, they are often operated under one of several structures:

• Franchise Agreements: Independent hotel owners operate their Crowne Plaza property under license from IHG.
• Management Agreements: IHG manages the hotel on behalf of the property owner.
• Leased Properties: Some hotels are leased and operated directly by IHG or third parties.

This ownership model allows IHG to expand the brand’s global footprint while limiting the amount of real estate it directly owns—a strategy common among major global hotel companies.

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Key Shareholder Highlights of IHG Hotels & Resorts

Since Crowne Plaza itself is a brand and not a standalone company, there’s no single individual “owner” of Crowne Plaza. Instead, InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is a publicly traded company, with ownership divided among institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual shareholders. Here’s a summary of how ownership of IHG generally looks (specific percentages can change frequently with market activity):

Shareholder / Entity	Approximate Ownership Status	Notes
Institutional Investors	Large portion	Pension funds, asset managers, ETFs
Mutual Funds	Significant holders	Long-term investor positions
Retail Shareholders	Smaller proportion	Individual investors

Note: Specific major shareholders change over time based on stock trading and regulatory filings. (Detailed ownership data from the latest filings would be available via financial regulators like the London Stock Exchange or SEC.)

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Recent Developments in Ownership

IHG has shifted toward an “asset-light” model, where it reduces direct ownership of hotel real estate and increases franchising and management contracts instead. This strategic shift helps IHG focus on brand management and global expansion rather than owning physical properties.

For example:

• Many Crowne Plaza hotels globally continue to open or be signed through franchise or management agreements.

This approach aligns with broader industry trends favouring flexibility and growth without extensive capital tied up in property ownership.

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FAQs

1. Who is the current owner of Crowne Plaza?
Crowne Plaza is owned by InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG Hotels & Resorts). The brand belongs to IHG, which sets the global strategy and standards.

2. Is Crowne Plaza publicly traded or privately owned?
Crowne Plaza itself is not a publicly traded company. Instead, it is a brand owned by IHG, which is a publicly traded company listed on stock exchanges such as the London Stock Exchange.

3. Who founded Crowne Plaza?
The Crowne Plaza brand was launched in 1983 as Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza and later developed into its own distinct brand under the IHG umbrella.

4. Has the ownership changed recently?
While the brand ownership has stayed with IHG for decades, individual properties change ownership frequently depending on investment and real estate deals. IHG continues to expand through franchise and management agreements.

Crowne Plaza Official Site