IHCL Reaches 628 Hotels as India Travel Demand Keeps Fueling Growth

IHCL said its portfolio has reached 628 hotels, including 373 already in operation and 255 in the pipeline.

India’s largest hotel company is still expanding quickly as travel demand stays strong across the country. It also keeps IHCL on track toward its long-term goal of reaching 700 hotels under its Accelerate 2030 strategy.

The company used both new signings and acquisitions to grow faster

IHCL said it recorded 250 signings during the fiscal year, driven by a mix of organic growth and acquisitions. In other words, it expanded not only by adding new projects under its existing brands, but also by using deals to strengthen its presence in new segments.

The strategy reflects how Indian travel demand is spreading across more trip types and spending levels. Hotel groups are no longer focusing only on traditional luxury stays. They are also expanding into segments tied to shorter leisure trips, wellness travel, and value-focused urban stays.

Luxury and midscale were both key parts of the expansion

IHCL said Taj signed 19 hotels during the fiscal year, including projects in Cairo, Patna, and Noida. It also said Gateway crossed 50 hotels, while Ginger expanded to more than 250 hotels across more than 150 locations after acquisitions involving ANK and Pride Hospitality.

India’s hotel market is still giving big chains room to expand

IHCL’s growth comes as India’s hotel sector continues to benefit from strong domestic leisure travel, corporate demand, and events. ICRA said premium hotel occupancy is expected to remain at 72 to 74 percent in 2026, while average room rates are also likely to rise.

The latest update keeps IHCL on course for its 700-hotel goal

The new milestone builds on IHCL’s February earnings update, when it reported 617 hotels and said revenue rose 12 percent year over year to INR 2,900 crore ($313 million). The move from 617 to 628 hotels in a short period suggests the company is still adding properties at a steady pace.

India’s hotel growth story is getting more competitive

IHCL’s expansion is not happening in isolation. It reflects a broader push by major hotel groups to grow faster in India, where strong domestic travel, improving spending power, and relatively low branded hotel penetration continue to create room for new supply. For example, IHG plans to grow to more than 400 open and pipeline hotels in India by 2031.

Photo by Ish Consul on Unsplash