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.
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.