Who Owns Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts?

Crowne Plaza operates under IHG's "Journey to Tomorrow" responsible business plan, which sets sustainability targets for 2030 aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. IHG has committed to reducing carbon emissions in line with climate science and has set targets for waste reduction, water conservation, and sustainable sourcing.

IHG's environmental targets include reducing scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 46% by 2030 from a 2019 baseline. Crowne Plaza properties participate in this commitment through energy efficiency measures, LED lighting conversions, and low-carbon building designs. Individual properties have achieved sustainability certifications including Green Key Certification, an independent international eco-label for hotels and tourism operations.

IHG has implemented waste reduction programs across its portfolio, including the elimination of single-use plastic straws and the introduction of the "Greener Stay" program, which encourages IHG One Rewards members to opt out of daily housekeeping in exchange for loyalty points. This program reduces water and energy consumption.

Crowne Plaza is not independently certified as a sustainable brand. The sustainability initiatives described above are corporate-level programs operated by IHG. Individual properties may hold certifications such as Green Key, but these are property-specific rather than brand-wide. Consumers seeking independently verified sustainability information should check individual property certifications.

Crowne Plaza has received recognition through IHG's corporate achievements and individual property awards.

• IHG Corporate Recognition: IHG was ranked 17th on Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For in the United States in 2025. IHG's Meeting for Good program, which includes Crowne Plaza properties, received the Gold Medal for Best Sustainability Initiative at Northstar's 2025 Stella Awards.
• Individual Property Awards: Crowne Plaza Changi Airport in Singapore has received multiple Singapore Hospitality Association Awards and Singapore Hotel Sustainability Awards. Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific in Australia has received recognition from tourism and hospitality industry organizations.
• Green Key Certification: Individual Crowne Plaza properties have received Green Key Certification, an independent international eco-label recognizing environmental leadership in hospitality operations.

Crowne Plaza as a brand has not received independent "best of" rankings from publications like Condé Nast Traveler or Travel + Leisure at the brand level. IHG's luxury and lifestyle portfolio earned 54 Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards in 2025, but these awards were for InterContinental, Kimpton, and Six Senses properties rather than Crowne Plaza.

Crowne Plaza, as a hotel brand, is not subject to product recalls. The brand has faced controversies typical of the hospitality industry.

COVID-19 Impact and Recovery: The COVID-19 pandemic severely affected Crowne Plaza's operations in 2020 and 2021, with global travel restrictions causing occupancy rates to drop significantly. The brand responded with enhanced cleaning protocols and operational adaptations. IHG reported that RevPAR recovered to pre-pandemic levels by 2023, and Crowne Plaza's renovation program was accelerated as part of the recovery strategy.

Franchisee Relations: IHG's asset-light business model means most Crowne Plaza properties are operated by franchisees. Tensions between hotel franchisors and franchisees over fees, brand standards, and renovation requirements are common in the hospitality industry. IHG has faced franchisee disputes over mandatory renovation costs, particularly for older properties that require significant investment to meet updated brand standards. These disputes are typically resolved through negotiation rather than public litigation.

Data Security: IHG experienced a data breach in 2017 that affected reservations at Crowne Plaza and other IHG brands. The breach involved credit card data from properties in the United States and Puerto Rico. IHG implemented enhanced security measures following the breach and reached settlements with affected parties. No major data security incidents have been publicly reported since.