TATA GROUP-OWNED INDIAN Hotels Co. Ltd. added 85 hotel signings and opened 40 properties in 2024, growing its portfolio to 360 hotels with 123 more in the pipeline. The Taj brand added 19 new signings, expanding to 125 properties.
IHCL expanded its market position by acquiring a majority stake in Tree of Life and securing a brand license for The Claridges, New Delhi, the company said in a statement.
“This record growth performance is attributed to the continued expansion of the brandscape,” said Suma Venkatesh, IHCL’s executive vice president for real estate and development. “IHCL launched the reimagined Gateway, acquired a majority shareholding in Tree of Life, adding a boutique leisure offering, and entered into a brand license agreement for The Claridges, commencing with the management of the brand’s landmark hotel in New Delhi, extending IHCL’s luxury portfolio."
“In line with IHCL’s Accelerate 2030 strategy, growth remains focused on capital-light initiatives, accounting for 75 percent of the year’s signings,” she said.
IHCL targets a 700-hotel portfolio under its Accelerate 2030 strategy.
Notable 2024 openings included a 90-room Taj resort in Puri, a 118-key SeleQtions property in Tirupati, and new hotels in Munnar, Mahabaleshwar, Jaisalmer, Goa, and Gangtok, the statement said. The Ginger brand added 10 new hotels, along with a new Taj hotel at Cochin International Airport.
“With the recent opening of a Taj at Cochin International Airport, a joint development with CIAL, Taj has expanded its presence at prominent airports, including Mumbai and Bengaluru, with a Taj at New Delhi airport also forthcoming,” said Deepika Rao, IHCL’s executive vice president for hotel openings and new businesses.
IHCL, India’s largest hospitality company by market capitalization, reported consolidated sales of approximately $226.83 million for the quarter ending September 30, reflecting an 18.41 percent increase from $191.56 million in the previous quarter and a 27.64 percent rise from $177.70 million in the same quarter last year. The net profit for the latest quarter was approximately $66.55 million, marking a 232.24 percent surge compared to the corresponding period last year.
The company aims to double its portfolio to more than 700 hotels and reach $1.8 billion in revenue by March 2030. This growth, part of the “Accelerate 2030” strategy, follows 10 profitable quarters, strong cash flows, and zero net debt.
Founded by Jamsetji Tata, Tata Group's founder, IHCL opened its first hotel, The Taj Mahal Palace, in Bombay in 1903. The company now has a portfolio of 360 hotels, including 123 under development, across 4 continents, 13 countries, including the U.S., and more than 150 locations.
Canadian traveler picks Pakistan’s hospitality over India’s
Pakistan Beats India in Hospitality, Says Canadian Vlogger
INDIA IS KNOWN for “Atithi Devo Bhava,” meaning "The guest is God," but some foreigners disagree. A Canadian man, when asked to choose between India and Pakistan for better hospitality, picked Pakistan without hesitation.
His brief interview with an Instagram user has since gone viral, Hindustan Times reported.
Instagram user @officialnamour, known for vox pop videos, recently asked Canadian traveler Nolan Saumure about "desi" hospitality. Saumure, a Canadian travel vlogger, has visited dozens of countries, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Indonesia, the U.S. and Vietnam.
When asked, “India or Pakistan—which has better hospitality?” Saumure instantly replied, "Pakistan, obviously."
He explained that Indians often see foreigners as wealthy customers, while Pakistanis offer warm hospitality, inviting tourists into their homes and offering food.
"You go to India, and people just see you as a walking ATM," Saumure said. "You go to Pakistan, and people are like, 'Oh, come here, sit. Take this free food. Come sleep at my place.'"
The video has more than 4.4 million views and hundreds of comments, many agreeing with Saumure.
"As an African living in Dubai, I agree with him. Pakistanis are friendlier than Indians. Pakistanis see you as a friend, while Indians see you as a stranger," one user commented. Another added simply, “I agree (I’m Indian).”
“India gets a lot of tourists, so we’re used to it and have built an economy around them,” another Instagram user said. “Pakistan gets only a few hundred tourists a year, so seeing a foreigner is a big deal for them.”
Some criticized Saumure’s opinion, some with racial overtones.
“Why do whites expect princess treatment from Indians after stealing $45 trillion from India?” one user asked.
A whitepaper by the Confederation of Indian Industry and EY projects India’s tourism and hospitality sector will create 6.1 million jobs by 2034. It currently accounts for 8 percent of total employment.