IHG’s new CEO on the next chapter for Six Senses, InterContinental, all-inclusive resorts and beyond

Consider it the year of Italy for IHG Hotels & Resorts.

The hotel powerhouse behind brands like Holiday Inn Express, Kimpton, InterContinental and Six Senses opened two marquee hotels — the Six Senses Rome and the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace — in the Italian capital over the last few months. But it's more than luxe properties that tie IHG to the Eternal City.

Elie Maalouf, who grew up in Rome, took over as the company's new CEO at the start of July.

So, does that mean IHG's new top brass will start changing everything to his liking? Not quite. Consider the Maalouf era as one of building on existing strengths.

This isn't entirely early days at IHG for the company's new chief executive. It's Maalouf's ninth year with the company, and he previously served as the CEO of IHG's Americas division, where he oversaw everything from development and operations to the launch of new brands.

I own the strategy that we have, and there's no need for renaming everything or re-labeling everything, Maalouf said with a laugh. But we're going to build on this.

The building isn't taking place in just one direction.