IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has signed a franchise agreement to debut voco, its new upscale brand in the West Midland’s town of Solihull. The hotel will be managed by Kew Green Hotels (KGH) and will be the second voco property in the UK, following the opening of voco St David’s, Cardiff.

The 180-room voco St John’s, Solihull recently opened following a refurbishment to the guest rooms, lobby, and the hotel’s restaurant and bar. The hotel has been treated with the brand’s signature ‘bold and distinctive’ interior design.

With more than 1,230sqm of meeting space across 13 different rooms, the hotel will cater to a variety of business and leisure events of all sizes — from small to large conferences of up to 700 guests. The hotel also offers a host of leisure facilities, including a fully equipped health club with an indoor swimming pool, sauna and gym.

“The first voco property in the Midlands”

Jane Bowler, general manager at voco St John’s, Solihull, commented: “This is an incredibly exciting time. voco will be a fantastic addition to Solihull, and we are proud to be the first voco property in the Midlands. We want voco St. John’s, Solihull to be an inviting place for both hotel guests and our local community, and we look forward to them experiencing the new brand. Our team are extremely passionate about what we offer and we invite you to experience the world of voco for yourself.”

voco is focussed on hotel conversions and is set for rapid expansion with a goal to open more than 200 hotels in key locations over the next 10 years.

Since its launch in June 2018, voco hotels have been signed around the globe, including agreements for hotels in Bangkok, Cairo, Dubai as well as Melbourne, Hunter Valley and Yarra Valley in Australia. The brand debuted with openings in Australia’s Gold Coast as well as in Cardiff (UK).