InterContinental Hotels Group has announced plans to expand its luxury and upscale estate in the United Kingdom.

IHG has entered into a conditional agreement with Foncière des Régions, to rebrand and operate 12 high quality open hotels and one pipeline hotel into its portfolio across the UK.

This deal will establish IHG as the leading luxury hotel operator in the UK, taking it to more than 2k rooms in this valuable, fast growing segment.

It will expand the presence for the InterContinental brand, and enable IHG to launch its leading luxury boutique brand, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in the UK, adding multiple hotels for the brand in prime locations in major city centres, including London, Manchester and Edinburgh.

This marks an important step in IHG’s plans to take the brand global, building on the first signings for Asia and China last year, and will act as a catalyst for Kimpton’s growth in Europe.

This agreement will also strengthen IHG’s position in the upscale segment in the UK, and will establish a presence for its new upscale brand, which will be launched later this year.

The brand will capitalise on the significant opportunity IHG has identified to offer consumers an informal but differentiated experience in the upscale segment, whilst offering owners a strong return on investment.

These hotels will provide high-quality representation for the brand in IHG’s largest market within the Europe, Middle East, Asia & Africa (EMEAA) region, where it will initially be launched.