Dine Brands is planning to expand its dual-branded Applebee’s and IHOP restaurant concept at home and abroad. This includes entering the Costa Rican market with franchisee BLT UK Holdings Limited, and opening the first non-traditional restaurants in Mexico with franchisees Grupo Shogua and ATH Group. The dual-branded format, combining Applebee’s and IHOP under one roof, is a “key part” of Dine Brands’ international growth strategy, says the company. In 2025, the company aims to open 13 additional dual-branded restaurants in new international markets and complete 10 dual conversions, bringing the total number of dual-branded restaurants to 41. The company is slated to open 14 more dual-branded locations in the United States through 2026 by transforming existing single-branded restaurants and building new locations from the ground up. When guests walk through the co-branded restaurant doors, they will find distinct Applebee’s and IHOP dining areas to choose from. Dine Brands says the shared common areas, including the host stand and bathrooms, create an “integrated experience,” and the optimized back-of-house and single kitchen provide “operational efficiencies.”