Radisson Eyes 240 Hotels in India by End of 2025
RADISSON HOTEL GROUP aims to have 240 hotels in India by the end of 2025, up from 129 currently, with 72 in the pipeline, Economic Times reported, citing senior officials. RHG has been implementing a five-year plan since 2018, updating it annually, resulting in a fourfold increase in business volume, both in revenue and development.
Belgium-based RHG is currently the second-largest international hotel company in India, after Marriott International, which has around 150 properties. Choice Hotels International owns Radisson brands in the Americas, including Park Plaza, Country Inn & Suites, and Park Inn by Radisson. Outside the Americas, RHG, an unaffiliated Belgium-based company, owns them.
“India, for us, is the country with the largest number of hotels. As of today, we have over 199 hotels—129 operational and 72 in the pipeline—making this our biggest portfolio globally,” Chema Basterrechea, RHG’s global president and COO, told Economic Times. “I think by the end of 2025, we will have 240 hotels operational plus those in the pipeline—our largest footprint in any market.”
Globally, RHG launched the “Welcome India” program, targeting India's growing outbound travelers. It also introduced “The Art of Weddings,” aiming to expand the program worldwide due to India's strong demand for destination weddings.
RHG has key global locations and aims to ensure its resorts are ready for Indian guests.
Nikhil Sharma, RHG's managing director and COO, South Asia, credited RHG's global success to its ability to localize in markets, including India.
“From an owner's perspective, we have engaged more, continue to listen, evolve, and expand our services on an à la carte basis,” he said.
In India, RHG recently advanced its strategy through the “Career Month” program.
“We reached out not only to individuals already working in the industry but also to those outside it," Sharma told Economic Times. "The idea was to promote tourism and hospitality to professionals from other sectors and encourage them to join us. One of our vision statements is to be among the top three most recalled employers for those wanting to work in this industry—globally and domestically. We continue to drive internal mobility and explore ways to train and upskill our team members for larger responsibilities.”
In January, Choice introduced new logos for its upscale Radisson, Radisson Blu, and Radisson Individuals brands and plans to add experiential elements at Radisson hotels in the Americas.
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.