IHCL’s 2026 Expansion: 4,500 Rooms and Claridges Partnership
INDIAN HOTELS COMPANY Ltd, the parent of Taj Hotels, plans to add 4,500 rooms across more than 30 new properties next fiscal year as part of its goal to exceed 700 properties by 2030, according to a PTI report. Claridges Hotels Pvt Ltd., led by promoter Suresh Nanda, launched the “Claridges Collection” brand, with IHCL managing select properties, including The Claridges, New Delhi.
It plans to expand the boutique luxury brand to more than 20 properties by 2030, starting with Claridges New Delhi, Connemara Chennai and Blue Diamond Pune, the companies said in a joint statement.
"We opened 25 hotels this year, and next financial year it will be north of 30,” said Puneet Chhatwal, IHCL’s managing director and CEO. “We used to say we would open two hotels a month... Now we are getting close to between 2.5 and 3 hotels a month. This is where we will be in the next financial year, with 2.5 being the minimum per month."
Under its “Accelerate 2030” strategy, IHCL aims to exceed 700 hotels and double consolidated revenue to Rs 15,000 crore by 2030. Chhatwal told the news agency that the financial year 2026 could see about 4,500 new rooms, averaging 150 per hotel.
IHCL plans to develop around 20 Claridges Collection properties in key gateway cities, serving as cultural and social hubs.
"The majority, 80 percent, of the Claridges Collection portfolio will be existing properties... 15 could be existing, and four to five will be new builds," he said.
Nanda called the collaboration with IHCL "a significant milestone in expanding the Claridges legacy across India."
"This collaboration combines IHCL’s hospitality expertise with Claridges’ heritage and culinary excellence, offering guests a distinctive experience,” he said. “We are confident this alliance will set new industry benchmarks."
IHCL may expand the Claridges Collection internationally. Chhatwal said the brand is registered in Nepal and Sri Lanka, in addition to India.
"It is an international name, so it would be great to take it global. For now, let's start with four to five key markets in the Indian subcontinent," Chhatwal said.
IHCL's loyalty program, Taj InnerCircle, part of Tata Neu's 'NeuPass,' grew fivefold to 10 million members, with loyalty-driven revenue exceeding 40 percent of IHCL’s total enterprise revenue.
