IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced a new management agreement with Hotel Eastern Nepal Pvt Ltd to develop Holiday Inn Express & Suites Dhulabari in south-eastern Nepal. The hotel is expected to open in 2026 and marks the second collaboration between IHG and Hotel Eastern Nepal Pvt Ltd, following their previous partnership on Holiday Inn Resort Kathmandu Budhanilkantha.
Holiday Inn Express is IHG’s largest and fastest-growing brand, with more than 3,200 hotels worldwide. The brand focuses on providing simple services and modern design for travelers seeking comfort and flexibility. The new hotel will include 99 rooms and suites, an all-day dining outlet with a rooftop option, a banquet hall, fitness center, and parking facilities.
The property will be located in Dhulabari, a town in the Jhapa District near the Nepal-India border at Kakarvitta and close to Chandragadi Domestic Airport. It will also be within driving distance of Pathibhara Devi Temple, an important pilgrimage site in eastern Nepal.
Sudeep Jain, Managing Director for South West Asia at IHG Hotels & Resorts, stated: “We are excited to strengthen our presence in Nepal with Holiday Inn Express & Suites Dhulabari. Building on the successful launch of Holiday Inn Resort Kathmandu Budhanilkantha with our partners, the new signing in Dhulabari is a testament to the trust, alignment, and shared vision we have established together.”
Mrs. Binita Thapa Khadka, Chairperson of Hotel Eastern Nepal Ltd., said: “We are proud to expand our partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts with the addition of a second hotel. Our experience of working with IHG for Holiday Inn Resort Kathmandu Budhanilkantha affirmed IHG’s operational excellence and brand value, making this next project a natural step forward. Dhulabari presents an exciting opportunity for growth, and with IHG’s trusted expertise and global standards, we are confident this hotel will elevate the hospitality offering in the region and serve as a strong economic contributor.”
The new hotel aims to attract business travelers as well as tourists from commercial and agricultural sectors in the area. With few branded hotels nearby, it is also expected to become a preferred location for meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions (MICE), and social events.
Currently, IHG operates 51 hotels across six brands in India—including Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza, voco Hotels, Holiday Inn Resort and Holiday Inn Express—and plans to open 72 more hotels over the next three to five years.
