Minor Hotels Sets Sights on 50 New Hotels in India by 2035
BANGKOK-BASED MINOR International Plc, which operates Minor Hotels and brands like Anantara, Avani, NH Hotels, and NH Collection, plans to open 50 hotels in the next decade. It entered India in February with its luxury brand Anantara Hotels & Resorts in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
The newly launched Anantara Jewel Bagh in Jaipur has seen strong demand, especially from the wedding market, Economic Times reported, citing the CEO.
“We have a very realistic target and vision: to have 50 hotels in different categories over the next 10 years,” said Dilip Rajakarier, Minor’s CEO. “We have hosted close to 40 weddings already, and the season looks promising. Indian customers are conscious of brand recognition and reputation when selecting hotels for such events.”
The 150-room hotel offers three room categories, ranging from the 65-square-meter Anantara One-Bedroom Terrace Suite to the 70 sqm Jewel Bagh Suite and the 173-square-meter Presidential Two-Bedroom Suite, Minor said in a statement.
The company is exploring rebranding opportunities in India.
“Greenfield properties take longer to execute in India due to delays in approvals and licenses,” Rajakarier said. “The company will follow an ‘asset-right model’ for growth and development. We are neither asset-heavy nor asset-light; we are asset-right.”
The company operates about 560 hotels, resorts, and residences across 58 countries.
Rajakarier said they will explore upper-upscale and luxury brands in India's gateway cities while considering upscale brands for tier 2 and 3 markets.
“We certainly want to see our brands in gateway cities like Mumbai and Delhi to demonstrate our commitment as a serious player in the Indian market,” he said. “That’s why we have set up a dedicated office here. We have ongoing conversations and discussions. We have mapped out the market and cities and have a clear understanding of where each brand fits.”
Minor will unify all its hospitality brands under the Minor Hotels master brand.
“Minor Hotels will be the mothership, and all brands will launch under it,” Rajakarier told Economic Times.
He said operating in silos had limited cross-selling opportunities.
Minor Hotels Europe & Americas reported strong financial performance for the first nine months of 2024, with revenue of $1.94 billion, a 10.9 percent increase from the same period in 2023.
Tata Group-owned Indian Hotels Co. Ltd.'s Taj InnerCircle, part of Tata Neu’s NeuPass, grew fivefold to 10 million members, with loyalty-driven revenue now exceeding 40 percent of IHCL’s total enterprise revenue.
