Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company, has announced a significant expansion in the first quarter of FY25, signing 16 new hotels and opening 6, thereby extending its total portfolio to 326 hotels, with a leading pipeline of 102 hotels.
Commenting on the milestone, Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President – Real Estate & Development, IHCL, highlighted the company’s strategic focus on growth and leadership in the Indian subcontinent. “Quarter one signings reflect our development strategy of accelerating growth. We entered new markets with properties like a Taj in Kanpur and Panchkula and a Gateway in Sarnath and Barnala. We also expanded in existing markets with the signing of Tree of Life resorts in Gangtok and Srinagar, a Taj in Anjuna, Goa, and a Gateway in Sawai Madhopur,” she stated.
Venkatesh emphasised that the diverse brand portfolio of IHCL, including the reimagined Gateway brand, has seen strong interest, aligning with the company’s growth objectives.
Deepika Rao, Executive Vice President – Hotel Openings & New Businesses, IHCL, noted the company’s consistent progress in hotel openings. “Our hotel openings in the first quarter have kept pace with our guidance of two hotels a month, including the launch of a 77-key SeleQtions in Mahabaleshwar and an 86-key Ginger hotel in Nagpur. We also expanded in Jamshedpur with a 94-key Vivanta hotel,” she said.
Rao added, “In line with IHCL’s asset management strategy, the iconic Taj Malabar Resort & Spa, Cochin, was reopened after a comprehensive renovation, underscoring our commitment to maintaining the leadership of our historic properties.”