Taj Hotels, owned by Indian Hotels Co. Ltd., retains its position as India’s strongest brand across sectors for the fourth year in a row, according to Brand Finance. Pictured: The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, India’s first luxury hotel, in Mumbai.
Vishnu Rageev R is a journalist with more than 15 years of experience in business journalism. Before joining Asian Media Group in 2022, he worked with BW Businessworld, IMAGES Group, exchange4media Group, DC Books, and Dhanam Publications in India. His coverage includes industry analysis, market trends and corporate developments, focusing on retail, real estate and hospitality. As a senior journalist with Asian Hospitality, he covers the U.S. hospitality industry. He is from Kerala, a state in South India.
Taj Hotels ranks as India’s strongest brand for the fourth year, according to Brand Finance.
Brand value rose 22 percent to $664 million, with a Brand Strength Index of 92.2 and an AAA+ rating.
Growth is driven by an asset-light domestic strategy, wider segment presence and global expansion.
INDIAN HOTELS COMPANY-owned Taj Hotels has been named India’s strongest brand across sectors for the fourth year in a row, according to Brand Finance. Taj operates more than 130 hotels in 14 countries, including palaces, city hotels, safari lodges, resorts and serviced residences.
Brand Finance’s ‘India 100 2025’ report found that Taj’s brand value rose 22 percent to $664 million, with a Brand Strength Index score of 92.2/100 and an AAA+ rating.
"This recognition reaffirms the deep trust and emotional connect Taj shares with its stakeholders, including our guests, partners and its dedicated team delivering the quintessential Tajness,” said Puneet Chhatwal, IHCL’s Managing Director and CEO. “Guided by its purpose of pioneering responsible change, creating value and shaping the future, Taj remains committed to unlocking India’s tourism potential and showcasing Indian hospitality to the world."
Brand Finance’s market research shows strong familiarity and preference, with most respondents in its home market naming Taj as their preferred hotel brand. The brand’s growth is driven by a domestic asset-light strategy, broader presence across hospitality segments and international expansion, with new properties launched or in development in Saudi Arabia, London and the Maldives.
Ajimon Francis, Brand Finance’s managing director, said Taj’s recognition as India’s strongest brand across sectors reflects the strength of its legacy, its connection with consumers and its consistent focus on quality.
“Its focused, asset-light and segmented expansion strategy, coupled with strong brand equity, continues to accelerate brand value creation,” he said. “Taj remains a strong example of how heritage and innovation together can create lasting brand strength — a true flag bearer of Indian pride.”
IHCL, founded by Tata Group founder Jamsetji Tata, opened its first hotel, the Taj Mahal Palace in Bombay, in 1903. It currently operates 388 hotels, including 139 under development, across more than 150 locations worldwide. IHCL is India’s largest hospitality company by market capitalization and is listed on the BSE and NSE.
Meanwhile, Taj’s parent, Tata Group, saw its brand value rise 10 percent to $31.6 billion, becoming the first Indian brand to cross the $30 billion mark and maintaining its position as India’s most valuable brand, Brand Finance said.
IHCL’s U.S. business has reportedly recovered, driven by steady demand at The Pierre in New York and Campton Place in San Francisco.
Marriott and BHVL plan six hotels with 940 rooms in four Indian markets.
Bengaluru-based BHVL is a subsidiary of Brigade Enterprises Ltd.
BHVL recently launched a $101.2 million IPO, including a $14.4 million pre-IPO placement.
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL AND Brigade Hotel Ventures Ltd will open six hotels totaling 940 rooms across four markets in India. The projects will be developed under five Marriott Bonvoy brands: The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Courtyard by Marriott and Fairfield by Marriott.
Bengaluru-based BHVL, a subsidiary of real estate firm Brigade Enterprises Ltd or BEL led by Executive Chairman M.R. Jaishankar, signed the agreement as part of its nearly 15-year partnership with Marriott, which has produced several large projects.
The six hotels, said Jaishankar, include the Courtyard by Marriott Chennai World Trade Center; Fairfield by Marriott Bengaluru International Airport; Fairfield by Marriott Bengaluru Brigade Valencia; The Ritz-Carlton Vaikom Island, Kerala; JW Marriott Chennai OMR; and Thiruvananthapuram Marriott Hotel World Trade Center.
“Each of these projects reflects our belief in the long-term potential of the Indian hospitality industry and our commitment to bringing thoughtfully designed hotels to both business and leisure travelers,” Jaishankar said. “With Marriott’s brands and global standards, we are confident these hotels will set benchmarks in their respective markets.”
BHVL is the second-largest owner of chain-affiliated hotels and rooms in South India among major private hotel asset owners as of March 31, according to the Economic Times. With the six upcoming hotels, along with the Sheraton Grand Bangalore at Brigade Gateway and Four Points by Sheraton Kochi Infopark, BHVL’s Marriott portfolio will total eight hotels with 1,388 keys.
“Our growth strategy focuses on being present where our guests want us to be, as we continue to meet the demand for luxury travel and hospitality services,” said Rajeev Menon, Marriott’s president, Asia Pacific excluding China. “Today’s agreement underscores our relationship with the Brigade Group and leveraging our brand portfolio, we are confident these developments will meet the needs of travellers for every trip purpose.”
Upcoming projects
Courtyard by Marriott Chennai World Trade Center, Chennai, Tamil Nadu – 45 rooms, opening fiscal year 2027.
Fairfield by Marriott Bengaluru International Airport, Bengaluru, Karnataka – 224 rooms, opening fiscal year 2028.
Fairfield by Marriott Bengaluru Brigade Valencia, Bengaluru, Karnataka – 151 rooms, opening fiscal year 2028.
The Ritz-Carlton Vaikom Island, Kerala – 70 villas, opening fiscal year 2029.
JW Marriott Chennai OMR, Chennai, Tamil Nadu – 250 rooms, opening fiscal year 2030.
Thiruvananthapuram Marriott Hotel World Trade Center, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – 200 rooms, opening fiscal year 2030.
BEL has a pipeline of about 16 million square feet of new launches in the residential and commercial segments and plans to add 1,700 keys to its hotel portfolio. BHVL operates nine hotels in Bengaluru, Karnataka; Chennai, Tamil Nadu; Kochi, Kerala; Mysuru, Karnataka and GIFT City, Gujarat, with 1,604 keys. The hotels are managed by Marriott, Accor S.A. and InterContinental Hotels Group. They are in the upper upscale, upscale, upper-midscale and midscale segments.
BHVL recently launched a $101.2 million initial public offering, including a $14.4 million pre-IPO placement, Business Standard reported. Hospitality revenue in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 was $16.1 million, up 19 percent from the same period in fiscal year 2025, while EBITDA rose 34 percent to $5.5 million.
Separately, Bengaluru-based Prestige Hospitality Ventures recently secured Sebi approval for a $308 million initial public offering.
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IHCL and Ambuja Neotia Group aim to develop 15 new hotels across West Bengal, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.
The projects are expected to be completed by 2030.
The expansion aims to boost tourism in East and North-East India.
INDIAN HOTELS CO. Ltd. recently signed a new agreement with the Ambuja Neotia Group to develop 15 additional hotels across West Bengal, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh. Ambuja will invest approximately $240 million toward executing the projects.
The IHCL and Ambuja Neotia partnership will open Taj resorts in Sunderban and Darjeeling, West Bengal; Shimla, Himachal Pradesh; and Rabong, Sikkim. They will build SeleQtions hotels in Kolkata, West Bengal and Siliguri, West Bengal. A Tree of Life hotel will be built in Lataguri, West Bengal. The expansion will include a mix of greenfield, brownfield and conversion projects, PTI reported.
“Under this capital light arrangement, the total number of hotels, through the partnership with the Ambuja Neotia Group, will go from 28 to 43,” said Puneet Chhatwal, IHCL managing director and CEO. “What we estimate is 1,000-plus rooms will be added by the new hotels to an existing 1,500 rooms.”
Harshvardhan Neotia, Ambuja's chairman, said the recent partnership with IHCL highlights the strength and momentum of their continued collaboration.
“Northeast, the unexplored region of India, has tremendous potential for bespoke luxury travel,” he said. “The addition of premium room inventory this fiscal to Taj Chia Kutir in Kurseong as well as the upcoming Taj-branded luxury villas in Darjeeling, Lataguri and Gangtok reflects the growing demand from the segment."
The first phase includes four signed operating agreements: Taj Darjeeling, SeleQtions in Kolkata and Siliguri and Tree of Life in Lataguri. A few select projects will also include Taj-branded villas in Darjeeling, Sikkim, Lataguri and Raichak. Completion is planned over the next five years.
Recently, Tata Sons launched a new hospitality platform to support IHCL, enabling it to operate group-owned hotels on a revenue-share model while staying asset-light.
The Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council and The Lalit Suri Hospitality School signed an MoU to improve hospitality education.
The collaboration reflects a broader push to invest in youth training and workforce readiness in India’s hospitality sector.
It aims to provide domain knowledge, hands-on training and certifications for domestic and international careers.
THE TOURISM AND Hospitality Skill Council and The Lalit Suri Hospitality School recently signed a memorandum of understanding to improve the quality and reach of hospitality training in India. The collaboration reflects a broader push to invest in youth training and workforce readiness in the sector.
The initiative offers students domain knowledge, practical training and certifications for national and international careers, THSC and TLSHS said in a statement.
“We are thrilled to see institutions like TLSHS champion the skilling mission,” said Jyoti Mayal, THSC chairperson. “Such partnerships are the backbone of a demand-driven skilling ecosystem that responds to industry needs and supports India’s youth—especially in tourism, one of the most people-centric sectors.”
THSC, a not-for-profit, is promoted by the Confederation of Indian Industry with representation from government, industry, associations, and training institutes across India. Faridabad-based TLSHS offers programs including a B.Sc. in Hospitality and Hotel Administration, a Diploma in Food Production, and a Diploma in Bakery and Patisserie.
Jyotsna Suri, CMD of The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, said the partnership aligns academic expertise with industry demand.
“At The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, we believe in building not just businesses but communities, and skilling is a key pillar of that philosophy,” she said. “By working with THSC, we are proud to contribute to nation-building through youth empowerment and skill creation.”
The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, part of Bharat Hotels Ltd., is a privately owned hotel company based in New Delhi. It operates 12 hotels in India and one in London. Its motto is “limitless hospitality.”
Radisson Hotel Group trained more than 300 individuals for hospitality roles with THSC, Job Plus, and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance marked World Youth Skills Day on July 15.
Neemrana Hotels is working with Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh to restore heritage sites.
The two sites are Baruasagar Fort in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, and Raja Rani Mahal in Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh.
Neemrana aims to convert them into “revenue-generating non-hotels.”
INDIA’S NEEMRANA HOTELS recently signed agreements with the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh states to restore and adapt heritage structures under a public-private partnership. The two sites are Baruasagar Fort in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, and Raja Rani Mahal in Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh.
Neemrana aims to convert them into “revenue-generating non-hotels,” a term it uses for heritage sites adapted for hospitality without typical hotel conventions.
The Baruasagar project is scheduled for completion by 2027, while the Madhya Pradesh project is targeted for 2028, Economic Times reported.
Baruasagar Fort’s phase one includes 25 guest rooms, a restaurant, a pool, a spa, spaces for cultural activities and facilities for small destination events. Restoration of Raja Rani Mahal in Chanderi’s Inner Town will begin with 10 to 12 guest rooms and is expected to retain the site’s architectural integrity.
A project representative said the goal is to retain historical authenticity while adding functional hospitality infrastructure.
Neemrana began operations in 1991, when co-founders Aman Nath and Francis Wacziarg opened the Neemrana Fort-Palace as a 12-room hotel after acquiring it in 1986. The company, now led by Co-founder and Chairman Aman Nath and CEO Sonavi Kaicker, operates more than 15 heritage hotels across India.
Tata Sons launched a hospitality platform for Indian Hotels Co. Ltd., enabling revenue-share operations on group-owned assets.
The first asset on the platform is a Ginger hotel near Kolkata airport.
IHCL is set to reach 400 hotels by the end of July and targets 700 by 2030.
TATA SONS LAUNCHED a new hospitality platform to support Indian Hotels Co. Ltd., enabling it to operate group-owned hotels on a revenue-share model while staying asset-light. The first project under this initiative is a 195-room Ginger hotel under construction near Kolkata airport.
Tata Sons will own the building and IHCL will operate the hotel. A revenue-sharing lease is planned once the hotel opens, Financial Express reported. Tata Sons is the holding company and main shareholder of the Tata Group, which includes entities such as Indian Hotels Co. Ltd., operator of the Taj, Vivanta and Ginger brands.
“Over time, this could potentially lead to the creation of an asset platform, which could become a big strategic enabler for IHCL,” IHCL managing director Puneet Chhatwal said in the Financial Express report.
The model supports IHCL’s capital-light strategy, despite ending the first quarter with $354 million in cash reserves. It plans to spend $116 to $174 million annually over the next two to three years on new properties, renovations and digital upgrades.
Meanwhile, IHCL reported a 19 percent year-on-year rise in consolidated net profit for the first quarter of this fiscal to $34.3 million, driven by growth in hotel and non-hotel segments, up from or $28.7 million a year earlier.
“It is the beginning of a journey where Tata Sons would gain from an asset platform and we gain in doing a revenue share. We will stay capital-light but benefit fully without development risk, construction risk, delays, depreciations, or future investments,” Chhatwal said.
Upcoming IHCL projects include the $290 million Taj Bandstand in Mumbai and two Taj resorts in Lakshadweep -- Suheli and Kadmat. The group has 143 hotels in the pipeline and plans to add 30 to 40 properties annually. It is on track to reach a 400-hotel portfolio by the end of July and aims for 700 hotels by 2030.
“IHCL continued its growth momentum with 12 signings, taking the portfolio to over 390 hotels and opened six new hotels in the quarter,” Chhatwal said. “Taj remains an icon in the global hospitality landscape. The hospitality sector, despite geopolitical headwinds, continues to show resilience and sustained growth.”