Sterling Holiday Resorts has strengthened its presence in India's wildlife hospitality segment with the launch of Sterling Quinta Jim Corbett, its second resort in the Corbett landscape and 11th property in Uttarakhand.

Located in the Bail Parao–Kaladhungi belt of Ramnagar, the new resort expands Sterling's curated wildlife portfolio to 13 resorts with more than 480 rooms and suites, reinforcing the company's strategy of building destination clusters across India's leading nature and wildlife destinations.

The launch comes as wildlife tourism increasingly evolves beyond conventional safari-led holidays, with travellers seeking immersive experiences, longer stays and deeper connections with nature and local communities. Sterling's growing portfolio across India's forests and wildlife regions reflects this shift towards experience-led travel.

Sterling Quinta Jim Corbett offers access to the wider Corbett landscape while providing a quieter alternative to some of the destination's busier tourism zones. The property complements Sterling's existing Corbett presence and gives travellers additional opportunities to explore different areas of the region.

The resort features 46 rooms across five categories, including accommodation options with private sit-outs, balconies and exclusive plunge pools. Facilities include a swimming pool, spa and Nectar, the property's all-day dining restaurant.

Designed for families, couples, celebration-led travellers and corporate groups, the resort also expands Sterling's leisure and events offering. A 2,800 sq. ft. banquet hall and two landscaped lawns provide spaces for destination weddings, social celebrations, corporate offsites and incentive programmes.

Beyond the resort, guests can explore the Corbett region through safaris across forest zones including Phato and Sitabani, along with birdwatching trails and plantation walks. Local attractions such as Chhoi Village, Shri Hanuman Dham, the Jim Corbett Museum and Corbett Falls further broaden the destination experience.

Sterling's wider wildlife portfolio now spans diverse ecosystems and destinations including Corbett, Gir, Kanha, Pench, Ranthambore, Sariska, Thekkady, Wayanad, Anaikatti and Tipeshwar, covering tiger reserves, lion habitats, rainforests and Himalayan forests.

Commenting on the launch, Vikram Lalvani, Managing Director & CEO, Sterling Holiday Resorts Ltd, said wildlife tourism in India is undergoing a transformation as travellers increasingly seek experiences extending beyond the safari. He added that Sterling's destination-cluster strategy aims to provide guests with richer ways to experience iconic wildlife regions while maintaining consistency in hospitality.

Shailendra Goswami and Amit Aggarwal, Partners at Shreena Hospitalities Pvt Limited, said Sterling Quinta Jim Corbett was envisioned as a peaceful, nature-connected retreat complementing the wider Corbett experience. They added that the partnership combines the resort's location and design with Sterling's hospitality expertise and scale.

With the addition of Sterling Quinta Jim Corbett, Sterling Holiday Resorts continues to strengthen its presence in Uttarakhand while expanding its focus on experiential travel segments including wildlife, mountains, wellness, pilgrimage and heritage

Lemon Tree Hotels has announced the signing of Lemon Tree Premier, Visakhapatnam, a new 110-key upscale hotel that will expand the group's presence in Andhra Pradesh.

The property will be managed by Carnation Hotels Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lemon Tree Hotels Limited. The signing takes the group's Andhra Pradesh portfolio to six operational hotels and seven upcoming properties.

The new hotel will complement Lemon Tree Hotels' existing presence in Visakhapatnam, which currently includes Keys Select by Lemon Tree Hotels in Daba Gardens and Keys Lite by Lemon Tree Hotels in Gajuwaka.

Located in Visakhapatnam, a major commercial, industrial and leisure destination in Andhra Pradesh, Lemon Tree Premier will feature 110 well-appointed rooms along with a restaurant, banquet hall and meeting/conference room.

The property will also offer a fitness centre, swimming pool and spa, positioning it to cater to both business and leisure travellers as well as meetings, events and MICE demand.

Commenting on the signing, Vishvapreet Singh Cheema, President, Lemon Tree Hotels Ltd., said that Visakhapatnam is an important economic and tourism centre, generating demand across corporate, leisure and MICE segments.

He added that the group's existing hotels in the city operate in the midscale and economy segments under the KEYS portfolio, while the new Lemon Tree Premier will allow the company to address a broader range of demand and strengthen its presence in the market.

The hotel is expected to benefit from connectivity to key transportation infrastructure. Visakhapatnam International Airport is approximately 39 km from the property, with the journey taking around one hour and 25 minutes. The destination is also connected by road with major cities across India through public and private transportation.

The signing forms part of Lemon Tree Hotels' continued expansion across emerging Indian markets, with the company strengthening its portfolio across different hospitality segments.

IHG Hotels & Resorts is seeing strong booking momentum across its India portfolio ahead of the Independence Day long weekend, with bookings currently tracking 16–20% higher year-on-year.

According to the hospitality group, several major Indian markets are recording healthy demand as travellers prepare for the August 15 long weekend, with New Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Mumbai and Gurugram emerging as some of the strongest-performing markets.

Pune, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, New Delhi and Mumbai are currently leading on both occupancy and average daily rate (ADR) growth, indicating stronger demand as well as improved pricing performance across these markets.

Sharing the booking outlook, Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said the company's India portfolio is witnessing encouraging momentum for the Independence Day weekend, with bookings currently tracking 16–20% above the corresponding period last year.

A notable trend this year is a shorter booking window, with travellers increasingly making their plans closer to the travel date. IHG said this behaviour is consistent with the booking patterns typically seen around long weekends.

City hotels are currently leading demand, supported by a combination of leisure, group and corporate business. The trend highlights continued demand for urban destinations during the holiday period, particularly as travellers combine leisure plans with shorter breaks.

At the same time, IHG expects resorts and leisure destinations to gain further pace as the weekend approaches, suggesting that last-minute bookings could play a greater role in shaping demand across leisure markets.

The booking trends come as India's domestic travel market continues to benefit from increased short-break travel, with long weekends providing opportunities for travellers to plan quick getaways as well as city-based leisure experiences.

With Independence Day falling on Saturday, August 15, 2026, hotels across major Indian markets are preparing for increased demand across both leisure and business-linked segments during the extended holiday period.