IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed Theobalds Estate as the first property to join Noted Collection by IHG since the premium brand launched earlier this year.
Located in Hertfordshire, the partly Grade II-listed estate sits within 55 acres of historic parkland near Theobalds Grove, 35 minutes from London Liverpool Street. Owned by Surya Hotels, part of Flying Trade Group, the property previously served as an 18th-century Royal Family residence and was home to King James I in the 17th century. It is set to open in 2027 following an extensive refurbishment.
Planned upgrades include a spa, gym, wellness center offering hyperbaric oxygen therapy, red light therapy, performance coaching, reformer Pilates, a spin studio, an outdoor spa garden and longevity-focused programs, alongside padel courts and full air conditioning installation. The property’s 25-meter outdoor heated pool Lido will be renovated to include a wellness spa, restaurant and children’s play area.
“Signing the first Noted Collection by IHG hotel so soon after launch is a powerful early signal of the momentum we’re seeing for the brand not only in our UK&I market but across Europe and our wider EMEAA region,” Willemijn Geels, Vice President, Development, Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts. “Owners are increasingly looking for flexible conversion solutions that protect a hotel’s individual character while connecting to the global reach of IHG and Theobalds Estate is a great example of that. The hotel is a unique property and we’re delighted to be partnering with Suki Dulai and the wider Surya Hotels team for the first time as they bring their vision to life.”
Surya Hotels simultaneously signed voco Thatcher’s Hotel in Leatherhead, Surrey, under IHG’s voco brand.
“Theobalds Estate is a unique property with a strong sense of place, and we wanted a brand platform that would allow us to reveal that story, while benefiting from the strength of a global hospitality company like IHG Hotels & Resorts,” said Suki Dulai, Group CEO, Surya Hotels. “Noted Collection by IHG offers the right balance – enabling us to uphold the individuality of the property while tapping into IHG’s global commercial engine and loyalty programme. We’re really pleased to be starting our partnership with IHG through this signing and, in parallel, through the signing of voco Thatcher’s Hotel in the UK, as we look to build long term momentum together.”
IHG’s 21st brand overall, Noted Collection targets upscale to upper-upscale hotels and sits alongside voco, Ruby and Crowne Plaza in IHG’s Premium segment. IHG aims to grow the collection to more than 150 hotels worldwide within a decade.