Minor Hotels Opens Office in Bengaluru; Targets 50 Hotel Openings in India Within Decade

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(02/05/24)
 Minor Hotels, a Thailand-based hotel owner and
operator with more than 540 properties in 56 countries, is aiming
to open 50 hotels in India within the next decade.

The company has had a presence in India since 2017
when it launched Oaks Bodhgaya in the northeast Indian state of
Bihar, and later this year, the group’s flagship brand, Anantara,
will open in Jaipur.

To support its planned expansion, Minor has opened
an office in Bengaluru and recently appointed Vijay Krishnan as
Vice President of Operations for India.

“We are bullish on the potential of India, and
have already been overwhelmed with owner interest, but are
proceeding with a ‘partnerships over properties’ approach,” said
Amir Golbarg, SVP for Middle East, Africa and India for Minor
Hotels. “That means we are being very selective in the hotels that
we add to our portfolio, with our focus on cultivating meaningful
alliances with partners who align with our values and vision.
Minor’s strength has always been in our ability to think globally
while acting locally, meaning we are well versed at adapting our
standards and operations to suit the unique characteristics of
each market we operate in – a trait we believe will give us a
strong advantage in India.”

Minor Hotels’ brands have already built strong
recognition amongst Indian travellers.

For Anantara in particular, India is one of the
fastest-growing international source markets, with annual room
night production across its Asia and Middle East properties
growing 72% in 2023 versus 2022. That trend has continued to date
in 2024, with Q1 figures up 36% on last year.

Minor Hotels is also a member of GHA Discovery and
revenue generated by GHA hotels in India hit a record US$68
million in 2023, with GHA loyalty members in India also topping
500,000 for the first time, a 21% year-on-year increase.

Indian members spent more at GHA hotels last year
than ever before, generating a record US$60 million in hotel
revenues, up 46% year-on-year. And, according to research from
GHA, its Indian members are planning on average four leisure
trips, three staycations and five business trips in 2024, with the
top three destinations being Europe, Thailand and Maldives.

Minor Hotels is one of the largest players in each
of those markets, with more than 300 properties in Europe, 25 in
Thailand and seven in Maldives.

“We believe in India. We believe in its potential
as a world-class inbound destination. And we believe in the
enormous opportunities that lie in its surging domestic market,”
said Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotels and Group CEO of its
parent company Minor International. “That’s why we have made
substantial investments in establishing our operations there, and
will continue to invest there to realise our growth ambitions.
With our extensive experience in managing world-class hotels in
emerging destinations, coupled with the strong recognition of our
existing hotel brands within the Indian market, we are confident
in our ability to play a significant role in India’s ongoing
tourism success story.”

Globally, Minor Hotels is aiming to add more than
200 hotels to its portfolio in the next three years.

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