The brand was founded by hotelier Robert H. Burns as a joint venture with Japan's Tokyu Group in 1970, opening its first property in Waikiki Beach, Honolulu in 1971. Burns was, soon after, joined by Georg Rafael and Adrian Zecha, who together developed and expanded Regent's footprint to 17 hotels worldwide.^[1] In 1981, The Regent Hong Kong opened to great acclaim and was consistently labelled "the world's best hotel".^[2][3] The Regent Beverly Wilshire joined the chain in 1985, and later served as the setting for the 1990 film Pretty Woman,^[4] which helped cement Regent's reputation as a luxury hotel operator at the time.^[5]

In 1986, EIE International acquired a 35% stake. When Burns decided to sell his remaining 65% stake in 1992, EIE exercised its right of first refusal to acquire the entire company, which was then promptly sold to the Four Seasons hotel chain.^[6] Regent properties that were under development at the time of purchase in Bali, Milan, New York, and Istanbul were subsequently opened under the Four Seasons flag. Furthermore, Regent Hotels in Jakarta, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Sydney, as well as the Beverly Wilshire were likewise absorbed into the Four Seasons chain.^[7][8]

In 1998, Carlson acquired the Regent name for new hotel developments and created a luxury hotel division while Four Seasons continued managing existing and new Regent hotels, thus labelling existing Regents as "a Four Seasons Hotel".^[9] In 2002, Carlson agreed with Rezidor SAS to develop the Regent hotel brand in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.^[10] Projects were announced in Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Hungary, but none materialized under the Regent brand under Carlson's ownership.

In March 2006, Carlson renamed its Radisson Seven Seas Cruises as Regent Seven Seas Cruises and merged the cruise operation and Regent International Hotels under a common brand.^[11] In 2008, Regent Seven Seas Cruises was sold to Apollo Management, an investment company. Carlson retained ownership of the master Regent brand, along with the operations of Regent Hotels & Resorts around the world.^[12]

In 2010, Carlson sold the Regent business to Formosa International Hotels, the largest listed hotel operator in Taiwan and owner of Grand Formosa Regent Taipei hotel in Taipei, Taiwan, which was opened by Regent's founders in 1990 as The Regent Taipei.^[13][14][15] Co-founder Robert Burns was appointed Honorary Chairman, and Ralf Ohletz as president. Ohletz had worked with another Regent co-founder, Adrian Zecha, for 25 years.^[7]

In March 2018, IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) announced that it had agreed to buy a 51% majority stake in Regent Hotels for $39 million and planned to expand the brand to 40 hotels from six hotels at acquisition.^[16] This includes rebranding the InterContinental Hong Kong, which initially opened as a Regent property in 1980, to a Regent property once again in 2022 following major renovations. As part of the acquisition deal, IHG has the right to acquire the remaining 49% of Regent in a phased manner from 2026.^[17] New properties have since been signed in Kuala Lumpur, Chengdu, Shanghai and Jeddah.

Since the acquisition of Regent by IHG, the brand logo, monogram and identity were changed in May 2019, where IHG has positioned the brand as its top end offering in the luxury hotel segment.

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