Hotels

Hotel stays in India are becoming bundled experiences. A room is only one part of what is being paid for. As long as demand continues to favour these full-service formats, and hotels continue to build around them, room rates are unlikely to ease.

Sarovar Hotels is targeting growth in India's hotel sector, focusing on smaller cities and emerging markets where demand exceeds supply. The company remains discerning about new projects and is adapting to mixed-use developments while addressing talent shortages in the hospitality industry.

Minor Hotels is expanding in India, adapting to the growing domestic travel market and aims to balance city and leisure offerings, leveraging its diverse brands for global travellers.

Data from hotel chains and consultancies shows at least three companies have signed over a dozen hotels this year, riding the domestic tourism boom and demand for branded experiences.

As room growth matures and travel habits change, chains such as Marriott, Leela, Taj, Sarovar and Atmosphere are turning to branded homes and longer-stay formats for newer, asset-light revenue streams.

Amidst global travel uncertainties, Indian travelers are increasingly choosing domestic destinations. Hotels are adapting by offering premium packages and longer stays, with a focus on curated experiences rather than discounts, reflecting a shift towards high-value leisure demand.

Royal Orchid Hotels, which runs brands such as Regenta Hotels and Iconiqa Hotels, is expanding through management and franchise agreements while deploying capital cautiously.

A clutch of boutique platforms is turning holiday homes into income-generating assets, building structured hospitality businesses around a once-fragmented market.